| Rev Deborah - Remember! | | Print | |
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Remember!
The other week a friend of my husband's dropped by John's office to take him to lunch. Paul was chatting merrily when he suddenly stopped mid-sentence and put his hand to his throat. His eyes widened and his face went deathly pale. John said he was reaching for the phone to call 9-1-1 when Paul croaked, "Oh my God! Today is my anniversary!" Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, Paul was able to save his bacon. A couple of phone calls, a charge account number, the payment of a "rush order" charge, and a lovely bouquet was delivered to his wife's office before the day was out. All's well that ends well. But it was a close thing. It would have been better if Paul had remembered sooner — a lot easier on his nerves, and probably cheaper, too. But that kind of thing can happen to the best of us. Haven't there been times when you've wondered what day of the week it was? What the date is? Our days are filled with routines — that are useful for getting things done. We get up, get dressed, go to work ... we drive along the same roads, listen to the same radio programs, eat lunch at the same time, talk to the same people... One day blends into the next. And then we forget our anniversary. Or a loved one's birthday. It isn't that we don't care — it is that it the business/busy-ness of living makes it hard to separate one day out of all of the other days. It is hard to tell which day is a special day.
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"Why is this night different from all other nights?" the youngest child asks at the Seder dinner: "What's so special about today?" Our Jewish cousins have taken Moses' teachings to heart: they understand that Passover is a special time. Things are clearly different. No one can miss noticing that all traces of leaven have been removed from the house, that special prayers have been said, special foods have been prepared, and the family has gathered together. The celebration was designed to provoke questions, to encourage storytelling, to remind the Hebrew people of something important. And one memory leads to another. The name for the festival, "Peschach" comes from the Hebrew word meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. That single word is a reminder of the many ways in which the Holy One has guided and protected the People of Israel: when the angel of death passed over the homes of the Hebrew slaves while they were in Egypt; the parting of the Reed Sea; the way the Holy One faithfully led the Israelites through the desert. It is a reminder that our God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 118; Isaiah 63:7; Jonah 4:2; etc.). That is something worth remembering. But sometimes we forget. Sometimes we get busy, we get stressed, we get sick, people we love get sick; we begin to feel isolated, alone, and afraid. Sometimes, in the midst of our busy lives, we forget about God. But the Beloved never forgets about us. Just as in ancient times, the Holy One continues to protect us; to safely guide us as we pass through this world.
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I wonder if there is something that could keep the Good News fresh in our memory. Not just for a day or a season — but every day. How can we remember that our God is ever-faithful, and cares for us tenderly? That we have been set free from slavery to sin and death; that we are forgiven, and loved beyond our imagining. What could remind us that the Beloved is with us in good times and bad — today, tomorrow, and always — and will never let us go? Is there something we can do? Is there a word we can say? I wonder. As we draw ever-nearer to the holiest Day of the Christian year, let us pray for the grace to truly understand that every day is a holy and blessed day. And that we are a holy and blessed people. Virtual hugs and real-time blessings, Deborah + This Week's Suggested Spiritual Exercise: What would help you to remember that you are a beloved Child of God? A string around your finger? a magnet on the refrigerator? a note pinned on the rear view mirror? Once you've decided what will be most effective, start using this reminder, and retain it until after the Easter vigil. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR LIST: If you would like the weekly Reflection to be sent directly to your email address, you may join our list for free by emailing dbgiordano@comcast.net with the word "Reflections" in the subject or body of the email. The Reflections mailing list is NOT used for any other purpose. UNSUBSCRIBE: If you no longer wish to receive the weekly Reflection, reply to this email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject or body of the email. |
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