Living in Ordinary Time
Psalm 5.3
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; *
early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for you.
We are now in the post Pentecost season sometimes called Ordinary Time. This season runs from the Monday after Pentecost to the Saturday before Advent begins. The name has something to do with numbers, but more importantly it is designated as a time for us to live out our faith and the meaning of Christ's resurrection in ordinary everyday life!
Psalm 5 appointed for today reminds me of what an ordinary day looks like for me...waking to time with God, making my appeal and watching and waiting. There are days in my journey when this time is interrupted either when I am traveling or by the pitter patter of the little feet of grandchildren. Neither of these interruptions bothers me, but as the day goes on, I notice that I have missed that daily time and there is a bit of a void in the important "ordinariness" of my day.
For someone I love, this is an anything but ordinary time as she struggles with troubling health issues. When I found this beautiful depiction of ordinary time, I was reminded of my friend's place in the woods where, like Mary Oliver, she goes to be restored and renewed. I pray that the ordinary of our journeys might remind us of places we can go where God will hear our voice, and we will be enveloped by the love of Creation. Please pray for all who find this season anything but ordinary.
How I Go into the Woods
by Mary Oliver
Ordinarily I go to the woods alone,
with not a single friend,
for they are all smilers and talkers
and therefore unsuitable.
I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree.
I have my ways of praying,
as you no doubt have yours.
Besides, when I am alone
I can become invisible.
I can sit on the top of a dune
as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned.
I can hear the almost unhearable sound of the roses singing.
If you have ever gone to the woods with me,
I must love you very much.
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