My daughter has a good friend who lives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. On Tuesday he sent a video of his drive interrupted by camels running beside his car. Maybe you have heard the phrase “hump day.” In our country that is Wednesday. For Jason that is Tuesday. In the UAE, Sunday is a regular work day as Friday and Saturday are their weekend. Jason wanted Sara to see how his Tuesday Hump Day was well underway accompanied by camels on the move!!! With the dust of the desert roadway swirling around them, the camels jogged along-side his car as he made his way to his destination.
I began to think about the rhythm of our lives. Tuesday or Wednesday marks the middle of our week. Hump Day…the middle of the week as we make our way to the weekend. In our current isolation working from home my days have mingled. Is it Monday or Wednesday? Ooops, it’s Sunday…find the ipad for worship! As much as I try to keep up, I am always a few days or hours behind. “What do you mean it’s supper time?”
Centuries ago our days were divided into hours and weeks. As much as I thought I was not time and calendar bound, I have learned differently. I use time and days like a compass to point me to events, meetings, devotional time. I have missed the clear definition of our weeks beginning with Sunday worship together at a certain time and place.
Creation seems to have an internal calendar and clock. The warmth of days brings growth and renewal – gardens bloom, ducklings appear, trees have new growth. The cold breezes indicate a time of dormancy is coming.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Maybe my lesson during this time is to listen, observe and learn from creation. To embrace the times and seasons of our lives as they are given – a time to weep and a time to laugh…a time to mourn and a time to dance. This time says to me “quit overthinking, over planning and over reacting…breathe deeply of the day, the hour, the minute…pause in the present…find gratitude.”
Let us join in prayer: Gracious and Loving God, your gifts to us of day and night, of rest and awareness, show us your tender care and plan for all creation. Help us to embrace the times of our lives. In our sorrow and our pain, help us to know your presence and your compassion. In our time apart and time together, help us to embrace moments of your grace. In our confusion and doubt, help us to seek your way, truth and life. Amen.
Written by Rev. Carol DiGiusto
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