Day Three

Day Three // February 19 // Perfectly Faithful

“A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in – what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.” – Victor Hugo –

Jesus gives us clues of how He maintained His God connection to do His work on earth. As Mark 1:35 records: “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” He consistently carved out time to be alone, to pray, and to reflect on the presence of God all around Him… and all around us. In a world of busyness and constant connection with virtual media, Lent asks us to come away to a quiet place and spend time with God. Father Richard Rohr shared some insights into his own spiritual journey. He wrote:

“In 1985 my Franciscan ‘guardians’ (as Francis called our superiors) gave me a year’s leave to spend in contemplation. It was a major turning point in my life.

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The first thirty days of my ‘sabbatical’ were spent in the hills of Kentucky, in Thomas Merton’s hermitage about a mile away from the main monastery. I was absolutely alone with myself, with the springtime woods, and with God, hoping to somehow absorb some of Merton’s wisdom. That first morning, it took me a while to slow down. I must have looked at my watch at least ten times before 7:00 a.m.! I had spent so many years standing in front of crowds as a priest and a teacher. I had to find out who I was without those trappings – the naked me alone before God.

In the mornings, I would put my chair in front of the door and watch the sun come up. In the late afternoons, I would move my chair to the other side of the hermitage and watch the sun go down. The little squirrels and birds came closer and closer. They’re not afraid when we’re absolutely still.

Father William McNamara’s definition of contemplation as ‘a long loving look at the real’ became transformative for me. The world, my own issues and hurts, all my goals and desires gradually dissolved and fell into proper perspective. God became obvious and ever present. I understood what Merton meant when he said, ‘The gate of heaven is everywhere.’” During Lent, we need to take a long, loving look at the Kingdom of God all around us. How and when we do that will be unique to us. I heard Dolly Parton recently share that she very often wakes up at three o’clock in the morning and carves out the first four hours of her

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day praying, studying Scripture, writing, and spiritually preparing herself for the day. I have other friends who are night owls, who spend the hours after midnight doing a spiritual examination; praying, contemplating, and preparing for what is next.

What matters is that we learn Jesus’ secret: that quiet time of connection with God is the fuel that will guide the work we must do… living into the resounding promise Jesus made us: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).