Kairos and the Caterpillar
My Dear People,
The biblical scholar (and the priest) will tell us that kairos is the Greek (and the theological term) for "God's time," as opposed to chronos, clock time. As I found out recently (in answer to another "Word from Grace Street"), the rhetoritician will tell us that, in the discipline of rhetoric, kairos means "opportune moment," as in "that window of opening where a rhetor can move whoever is listening/reading."
I love it.
Of course, kairos is both "God's time" and "an opportune moment." An opportune moment precisely because it is God's time: that is, God makes each moment opportune by his presence, by her limitless patience and relentless and loving determination to bring grace and hope into each moment.
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Two months ago we, the Church, celebrated the beginning of a new year; and two days from now, the world will celebrate a new year. The years come and go, but of course it is in the moments we live.
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Several years ago, in Sewanee, I had the pleasure of hearing the poet Richard Wilbur read selections from his poetry. I'll never forget that moment, if you will. Him, in his seersucker suit and open collar, tall and broad-shouldered, understated and wise. In "A Measuring Worm," Wilbur writes of a "yellow striped green/Caterpillar, climbing up/The steep window screen."
Although he doesn't know it,
He will soon have wings,
And I, too, don't know
Toward what undreamt condition
Inch by inch I go.
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Inch by inch. Moment by moment. Each moment opportune.
Thanks be to God.
Your brother in Christ,
Wallace+
