I Wonder!

And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.   But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2: 18-19.

 I have long been interested in terms like these: to ponder, contemplate, reflect, wonder  and meditate.   These are often used inter-changeably. 

to ponder is to weigh in the mind or reflect with thoroughness and care; 

 to wonder as a verb is to have interest in knowing or learning something : to think about something with curiosity;  and as a noun - The emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, astounding, or marvelous.

I have noticed in myself and in listening to others in conversation that we use the term "I wonder" a lot;  - "I wonder why they do it that way.... I wonder why I have this good fortune (or tragedy) and not someone else, or now on the anniversary of the shooting in Sandy Hook,  many are wondering why that tragedy happened (what motivated the shooter of over 20 children in Newtown; and another, and another, and another such shootings since) . ..  

In the face of calamity I have heard people say, "I can't believe in a God who would allow such a thing to happen"; while others have another reaction; perhaps one of pondering deeply -  "Oh God, I don't understand and I cry to you for understanding and comfort".  

I think one of the greatest human capacities we have is to be able to reflect on experience, learn from it and apply it to future behaviors.  We can think about questions like "why?" even when we know we can only get a glimpse of an answer.  We have the capacity to wonder at the things we have seen and heard. 

Yesterday I skied on the mountains outside Bozeman, Montana.  As I took in the spectacular beauty of nature I experienced the wonder of creation. I didn't need to think a lot about it - I just took it in and accepted it as grace-given.  The exhilaration of just being there was "wonder-full" and awe-inspiring!    

On the other hand, I have been reading a book about innocent civilians, mostly children, who have suffered terribly because of the war in Iraq, and another about human trafficking  and the selling of children in Nepal for prostitution in India.  Stories of sin, suffering and human  degradation.  I wonder - "how can humans treat other humans like this?"  

Mary had much to ponder and take in at the beginning of her son's life - I can only imagine it was akin to what we feel when we are completely fulfilled and happy, such as the mountain top experience I had yesterday.  Or, as parents experiencing the birth of a baby.   But she also experienced being with her son at the other end of life.  As she anguished that loss she certainly would have pondered the meaning of it.  

And so we do that again at this time of year.  

Even though we have heard this story so many times before, we  are like those who heard it the first time and wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 

I wonder, what are your thoughts and reflections this time of the year?

What Time is it? An Advent Reflection

One of the main themes we hear during Advent is about the coming of Jesus "in the fullness of time".

Last Sunday the Bishop preached at our church.  One of the things he talked about was the two types of time - chronos, and kairos.  Kairos is a Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment .  Chronos refers to  sequential time. 

Kairos intrigues me.  It is harder to grasp than the notion of chronological time -which is measurable and quantitative. After all I know how to tell time and I am often checking my watch and thinking ahead.  Many people are doing that now - busy preparing for Christmas - afraid of "running out of time". 

 Kairos is qualitative - it signifies a time between, a moment  when things seem to come together - the right or appropriate time to say or do the right or appropriate thing.   Looking back over many years of life there were a number of chronos times when Judy and I experienced kairos moments.  We literally were challenged by critical events that provided opportunities that required decisions that dramatically changed our direction.  

I think of the devastating earthquake that struck Managua just before Christmas in 1972 and the opportunity and call to go immediately to Nicaragua to respond to that humanitarian emergency - the right one to be in the right place at the right time.  It changed our lives from that moment on.  One example of many in our lives where decisive action was needed. 

But there were and continue to be many times when  a quieter and more deliberate contemplation of the here and now are called for.  I like this quote from Bonhoeffer:

God will often require quick action, but God also requires stillness and reflection.

 

This is what Advent provides - a time of expectant and patient waiting juxtaposed with the pull and pressure to be doing something with and for others.  It is meant to be a quieter time than it has become in our modern culture - that is a given.  So, at the least,  let us use our time well and watch for God's purposes during this season.

Henri Nouwen, the Catholic priest who wrote many books on the spiritual life, wrote:

The spiritual life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, trusting that new things will happen to us, new things that are far beyond our imagination, fantasy, or prediction.

A Quiet Time in Yellowstone Park