Encountering the Miraculous in the Ordinary, Faith, Spiritual Discovery, wisdom

Soul Cake: Nostalgia and the Assignments

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“A soul cake, a soul cake,
Please, good missus, a soul cake,
One for Peter, two for Paul,
And three for Him that made us all.” – Sting

As the holiday hustle-bustle gets into full-swing, many feel nostalgic, for a time and place that felt….  different. Whether the difference entails a little less of one thing, or a bit more of something else, tidings of comfort and joy end up wrapped…. differently, as the years progress.

This season is all about the miraculous. Regardless which holiday is celebrated, this time of year is supposed to inspire the belief that anything is possible. Faith takes center-stage, as lights comprise a Festival…. and a manger cradles Love, incarnate.

It is almost impossible to resist reminiscing, as the season is built on tradition. Feeling certain that Assignments are found, by those seeking, I set off, today, to run errands, then find my miraculous… at Piccadilly.

For those unfamiliar with this southern staple, the first Piccadilly Cafeteria opened in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the 1940s. Beating the changing taste of a fickle public, they’ve managed to remain open in eleven states, primarily dotted across the deep south. They serve home-style meals…. with a seating area that strives to “fancy up” the average cafeteria image.

In my youth, suggesting Piccadilly, for any meal, was a sure-fire way to get your awesome card revoked forever…. or until someone did something equally uncool.

However, there was no real way to escape Piccadilly…. many times, the family  wanted to eat there on Sundays, after church; they also shrewdly located themselves in malls, the meccas of my adolescence. The particular mall that was most popular, in my sleepy little town, as a teen, had Piccadilly on one side, El Chico’s on the other side. Dueling restaurants…. Copious desserts on one side, copious alcohol on the other….one guess as to which restaurant had the slicker image.

The thing is, I didn’t mind going to Piccadilly…. because anywhere I went, with my grand”mother”, was a magical experience. She was like this little pixie, looking for ways to make the best kind of mischief, everywhere she went. During the holidays, we could have changed our address to “The Mall”….. and not a  beat would have been missed. We spent most of our time  at the Hallmark Store and  Piccadilly fed us, quite often.

She loved their egg custard pie, but what she loved even more was sneaking around, putting twenty dollar bills between salt and pepper shakers, on random tables…… very few kids have to play “look-out” for a reverse Robin Hood grandmother.  She’d vary the section, so different servers would find the “general principle happy”, as she described it. Hanging around with this kind of person can get you to believing in miracles.

So, today, I wanted my own version of soul cake…… a salmon patty, on Friday, a day I try not to eat meat. I’ve never quite understood why seafood is not considered meat, but when in Rome…..

“A soul cake, a soul cake… please good missus, a soul cake… one for Peter, two for Paul… three for One who made us all…..”

Three people, in a row, wanted a salmon patty…. and there were none on the line. So, we all took our number, placed it on our respective tables….. and as I waited for my soul cake, I overheard this little boy, in the booth behind me. “The broccoli is a magic tree!” He was so excited, about this piece of broccoli. He was clearly open to an encounter…. if we all could retain that sense of wonder.

I waited….. and looked around…. and saw so many different people, fulfilling their Assignments….. but I really had to look.  A table of ladies who probably play bridge…. or knit…. or maybe play in a garage band…. and perhaps have a weekly Friday lunch, at Piccadilly. The food nourishes their bodies and friendships.  A son, with what appeared to be his mother, the son taking extra good care, to make sure she was comfortable. A few workers gathered, in a corner, talking….. cleaning condiment bottles…. and laughing. I imagined a twenty dollar bill falling, as a salt shaker was retrieved, for cleaning. A random occurrence….. and if it happened only once, that would be one thing…. the restaurant could assume someone had accidentally  left the money. However, if it happens all the time…. random, yet not so much….. maybe there’s a pixie, with one wing clipped…. and a sideways halo…. because she’s no perfect angel… just a well-meaning pixie, doing her little mischievous thing.

I didn’t see any twenty dollar bills, but I did see something rather miraculous…. I saw what inspired my grandmother to do this, in the first place. I saw a human family, gathered… all there, for different reasons…. but each with a desire to find Christmas or Hanukkah, in their hearts. Of course, this desire beats 365 days a year…. we’re just more aware of it, during this season.

I thought back to a time when women in peach colored dresses, each of them with stories to tell, would stop and visit with Mrs. Lawrence (and me). I thought about our friend who was contemplating her third back surgery… she worked hard for her money…. I thought about our friend who had a son poised to fly the nest for college, how her husband’s job at the GM factory didn’t quite make the bills… and they didn’t want their child to begin his adulthood with student loans. I thought about the widow, who worked for the money….. but also worked to fill her time. The kids were all grown…. everyone lived far away…. so she pushed her little cart to make ends meet… and find some purpose, in her day.

The staff now wears red shirts and black pants….. but I bet a lot of them have a story to tell…. stories to inspire.

I slowly ate my soul cake, remembering a glimmer in the eye, a quickness in her step….. a reminder to not only look around, for the miraculous…. BE the miraculous….. but don’t dwell on any one deed…. that spoils the fun.

Holiday nostalgia…. in a salmon patty…. at Piccadilly. Sacred Assignments are everywhere….. surely, the inspiration for them abound!fried salmon patty

Faith, Holiday How-To, Uncategorized

It’s the Most___________ Time of the Year: Holidays and the Assignment

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“And when one of us is gone… and one is left alone to carry on… remembering will have to do…. our memories alone… will get us through… just think about the days of me and you…. you and me…. against the world.” – Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher

 

When I was a small girl, my grand”mother” used to sing “You and Me Against the World” to me…. among other songs, like “Sing” and “The 57th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy)”…… but “You and Me Against the World” took on special meaning… because there was this part of me… maybe a part of her, too, that knew one day… it would be us… alone… against the world. For eighteen years, it was exactly this…. but it was fine… better than fine. We were actually very, very happy… because even when problems came up (they invariably do, for us all)…. even when one of us was ill ….. whatever… we made it a point to find humor… find gratitude… find hope. That was how we handled… she and I, against the world.

The holidays were always particularly joyful…. her inner child would come out in full force, swinging from the drapes ( to decorate them, of course), while pulling together just the right meal, just the right music…. all the right gifts. She cataloged every mere mention, all through the year… and collected gifts, as wishes surfaced. It was never about “whoever has the most toys wins!” Oh no, on the contrary…. it was about paying attention…. waiting , watching and listening…. to observe the clarion call of love. At Christmas time, that just happened to involve tangible signs.

The holidays are now a little sad; not because of the gifts…. or anything related to the celebratory part…. well, nothing except the spirit. She and I, against the world, could mean confronting some pretty tough issues… but she and I, against the world, at Christmas, meant spreading love to everyone we could think of…. people who served us, all through the year…. people who needed a hand-up…. but shhhh!!! No deed worth doing is aided by the press. We were a team of two elves, doing for others…. and each other. The most fun I’ve ever had, at Christmas, was surprising her with something she never thought she’d get around to buying for herself. I will say…in that regard,  I was a pretty good student… because it just felt so good.

What does all of this reminiscing have to do with your Sacred Assignment? Actually, it has everything to do with all of our Sacred Assignments. During the holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza , etc.) we are called to hope.. and love… and peace. The best representations of hope, love and peace involves loving others, and loving them well. We often say we wish Christmas could be all year (its spirit could, that’s our choice)…. but how do we cultivate these feelings, when we are left as a party of one? There are many ideas out there, for living with loss, during festive seasons:

A. Do for others: Nothing gets one outside personal circumstances quite like doing good turns for others. A friend of mine recently ran a purse drive, where they collected gently used nice purses, then filled them with toiletries and other needed items, for  displaced women. That is a day-maker.

B. Starting new traditions, with those who need to bring fresh meaning to the holidays:  Grand”mother” can’t make fudge and divinity anymore…. (and sorry, but nobody else can make it like she did). Yet, there is something someone can do… maybe even me…. that would establish a new tradition, one that would become cherished.

C. Reaching out: Whether one is on the side of free-flowing gifts, or life has placed one in a valley of uncertainty, the message of the holidays, regardless of the tradition, is one of hope and suspension of disbelief. Faith, is the better term. Faith that things will work out. Faith in human kindness. Faith in common humanity. Faith….. in an existential force which DOES care…. and beckons us to care, deeply.

The Sacred Assignment…. it is so fraught, for the observant. The Holidays offer many opportunities for growth, sharpening, as we prepare to start a new cycle,  a new year, full of promise and joy. Remember the widows, remember the orphans…. remember the least, among us. Clearly, these are Sacred Assignments, for the entire year…. but let the spirit of the holidays reaffirm your commitment…. whether it is you and a big family… you and one other…. or simply you. You are always enough.

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Brand in a Bubble: Presentation, Permeating the Assignment

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Bubble of transparency

“Your personal brand should be like water: not only clear, but transparent to the public. People thirst for that, and they will drink you up.”   – Jarod Kintz, This Book is NOT For Sale .

The genuine article. As children, if we are fortunate enough to receive liberal doses of unconditional love, we also usually hear about the merits of foregoing artifice. So many platitudes and clichés are based on this concept; “Be an original, it is always better than a copy”… ” You are as unique as a snowflake; no two snowflakes are alike, so it is with people.” …… but then, there is the flip side, the paradox….. expressed well, by Paromita Roy, who once said “At that time I felt like a showpiece.. only to be admired from afar.”

These seemingly contradictory expressions only become more confusing as we encounter people… in the real world. As children, transparency is demanded; lying to one’s parents/elders/etc. is considered one of the gravest misdeeds….. and for good reasons. First, as a child builds his identity, the great hope is that integrity will be the bedrock of his/her character. Integrity is inextricably bound together with truth. Children cannot grow in wisdom and integrity without being steeped in the importance of fidelity to truth and transparency. Secondly, as caretakers of young people, adults must be able to rely on what children tell them; otherwise, they are working with bad information, limiting their abilities to make decisions that are in a child’s best interest. Yet, isn’t it curious that we never think about the inverse relationship, the fact that adults owe children transparency as well? It is a bit hypocritical to expect what we have difficulty modeling…. but how do we model what doesn’t feel safe?   Our relationship to transparency gets off the tracks, it seems, the minute we feel the need to don the protective bubble.

Think about it: We all walk around with a veneer of defense mechanism and protection. Even the most candid among us has a razor thin shield, between him/herself and the rest of the world. Whatever we choose to call this: “The Stranger”, ” Ego”, “Game-face”…. on and on and on. It is widely accepted that while artifice is bad…. “presentation” is…. not exactly good, but necessary.

The question then becomes…. why is it necessary? If it’s not exactly good… if we get real, and understand that “presentation” is a euphemism for “artifice”….. and we generally agree that artifice interferes with real relationships, real interactions, people being REAL persons….. why is this branding a customary part of contemporary life?

The Sacred Assignment balks at the very thought of subterfuge , yet it is gentle, in its rejection. Modern society is all about appearances…. outward success is based  on the premise that it’s not how you feel, it’s how you look. This is not a new phenomenon, the outlets are just exponentially greater, for spreading this message. Social media, regular media, the playground at school, the water cooler at the office…. the glossy advertisements, with their promises of instant gratification…. all of these serve as fertile ground for stoking our insecurities… that we’re somehow not measuring up…. odd that we never stop to wonder…. what are we aspiring to achieve? A presentation that is shinier than everyone else on the block? An image that conveys greater happiness and accomplishment, than the family sitting next to us, at church? My partner is better looking than your partner? My kids are smarter than your kids? Is anyone starting to see a downward spiral, in this presentation of humanity?

It all begins somewhere, though…. and it isn’t taking root in sacred ground. These thoughts bubble up as a result of fear…. scarcity…. the notion that in order to get a piece of the pie, one must present in a way that affords him/her as many pieces as s/he desires….. because the brand demands it. The brand s/he has created broadcasts to the world that, clearly, s/he is WORTH IT! The bad news is….. the presentation does exist, in a bubble…. and we all know how fragile bubbles are. They can burst, without a second’s notice.

What is left, after the bubble bursts, is where the sacred can begin to glow, in glory. Kintz’s assessment, that people long for authenticity, is actually true. When a person has the courage to say “Here I am. These are my triumphs…. and these are my struggles. At any given moment, the scales might be tipped, in one direction or the other… very rarely is there a perfect balance, because life doesn’t work that way. However, the balance begins from within, inside of me. I choose to cultivate balance, regardless if the outer scales are tipped toward victory or defeat. Both conditions are temporary, but my sense of balance can be permanent.” We give this attitude a standing ovation…. “BRAVO!!!!” However… incorporating this belief, as a guiding force…. much more difficult… even though we attempt to foster it (in words, not deeds) in our children… and applaud peers who embrace transparency.

How can we get there, when authenticity can be so scary? I suspect there are several ways:

A. Recognition and acceptance of the delicacy of life. If the “brand” lives in a bubble, what security can that offer? Even more striking….. when the “brand” bubble eventually bursts (a million ways, for different days, that this might happen…. but the safe money is on it ultimately happening), the pieces are that much harder to pick up. Crisis is hard enough, without having to worry about brand management.

B. Authenticity may start out as less comfortable, more frightening….. but before long, one notices that it fits like a glove… because it is real! Pre-packaged thoughts, behaviors, images… that garbage takes a LOT of work. It feels like crucial work, because how does one guarantee a place at the table, for oneself, the family, etc.? Only when one gives sincerity a chance….. does it begin to make much more sense. Remember, sincerity doesn’t mean lack of diplomacy, the proverbial “bull in the china closet”. Sincerity means navigating life in a way that is congruent…. thoughts, feelings and behaviors are aligned…. and fear takes a back seat to principles. No more “game-face”…… unless you’re playing poker, game-face only serves to keep people at arm’s length.

C. Ever notice how really rich frosting is just too much? It stings the throat, leaves a slightly bad taste in the mouth and settles heavily, in the stomach. So it is with piling on the “branding”. The authentic way feels light and healthy….. people respond to that, even if they can’t quite put their finger on why they feel more comfortable. The burden of the “brand beast” is lifted…. no need to hide behind a presentation…. the genuine article is a welcomed companion.

As we move toward transparency, the Sacred Assignments become a little less challenging as well… because we’re showing up, as is, ready to tackle what is real…. we are real…. and moving ever closer towards whole.

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The Beauty of Broken: Fragments and the Assignment

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Feeling broken mimics abandonment…. but what is lost is ultimately found…. even if it is transformed.

I recall a friend once saying” I am in so many fragments right now, I can’t begin to assemble all the pieces.” Her words rang in my ears for quite some time….. I, myself, was in a period of feeling relatively whole….. yet, those words, the feelings behind them…. I was… I am… well acquainted, with the sentiment.

When life is humming along, peaceful and purposeful (it is always purposeful, the hum is sometimes merely muffled)… one is lulled into a sense of comfort and complacency. It’s not necessarily a time of detachment, from depth and meaning….. but there is a certain ease, a feeling of being in the right place, at the right time… with all the pieces falling into place. These times allow those who stay on high alert the chance to decompress, in quietude and, if wise, contemplation. Then…. we are once again reminded…. the most solid foundation can have an unexpected, king-sized crack.

Breaks in the foundation…… solid ground disrupted…… are very stark and sometimes, very painful. For the contemplative, it is hard to understand why the sudden jolt was needed; after all, even in times of tranquility, the Sacred Assignment is still front and center. Is it really essential that the foundation produce unpredictable cracks… in people, places, roles, the pillars of existence? Turns out, to fulfill the big Assignment…. some of the mini-assignments must come, pre-packaged, with a growth-inducing breach.

Sages and poets, from Leonard Cohen to Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, have lauded the beauty of cracks… how they let the light in. There’s an even greater function to cracks, however, that strengthen the constitution…. and a strong constitution is mandatory, for fulfilling Assignments.

Conventional wisdom tells us that when a bone breaks, it becomes stronger, in the fissure, once it heals. So it seems to go with people, in other aspects. Emotional turmoil can feel interminable…. and broken relationships, dreams, ideals…. can feel like the most painful upbraiding imaginable, fragments flying everywhere, shards of shattered innocence, all a matter of degree. Yet, when time…. and perspective…. and pockets of better foundation…. when all of these things are given their power to heal…… the cracked places are stronger. The relationship may be changed, irrevocably…. the dream may be altered, for eternity….. but the assignment was not an accident…. and the student achieves a form of mastery. We are not only humbled by the cracks, with the promise of allowing the light to flow freely…. we are re-created, stronger, bolder… with a frame of reference, for the next rough patch. The fragments do eventually re-assemble….. perhaps in a different pattern…. but a pattern that sustains and regenerates.

Sacred Assignments are not static; life, as we know, is not static…. everything is always changing, even in the smallest measure. When the change creates dissonance, we are invited to retreat, recall and renew. We are reminded of our common humanity, a key ingredient to all the Assignments…. and we are also reminded of the divine, as the mystery draws us through the desert…. then, back to peaceful pastures. Cold comfort, the first few cycles….. cold comfort, through many cycles….. warm alleviation, as we move through and call to mind, the dark nights of the soul… resolution, even as transformation.

What is lost may not be recaptured, but the fragments do re-assemble… and we are stronger… and wiser… refined. Gold, tested by fire, becomes more refined. So it is with us, as we move through the Assignments… the ones that leave us feeling forsaken are often invitations….. with each invitation as individual as our thumb print… as vital as the air we breathe. Pain is a teacher… feeling broken is a  sacred bidding….. working through, to the other side, is only half the commission. Recognition of the gifts, in the fragments… leaves us fruitful, not fretful….. familiar with the discomfort, fortified by the remembrance… that the light will eventually stream in… and the broken places will become stronger. The next breach will generate fewer shock waves….. the spirit will radiate a healing light…. especially in the cracks.

Change and Growth, Courage in the Face of Adversity, Self Confidence, Spiritual Growth, wisdom

Power to the People: A Call to Personalized Permission

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“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

Empowerment has become a buzz word, in the field of pop psychology. Need to get out of a bad relationship? Empower yourself through leaving! Want to lose a bad habit? Empowerment will help you break free from old patterns! I could go on and on, but you probably get the point…. you may even be nodding along.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the empowerment movement. In fact, it has led to many good people becoming beyond great,…. and not just for personal gain. Martin Luther King, Jr. , Mother Theresa and Gandhi are the first examples who spring to mind. Had any one  of them chosen to live a life that was less exceptional,  we wouldn’t enjoy many of the ideals we have adopted, as a result of their courageous work.

It has been my experience that when people talk about empowerment, they are referring to the individual…. which is valid. Large scale empowerment must begin with one person, who is wiling to believe in themselves and design his/her life.

Still…. while we definitely want to include personal empowerment, a myopic  focus, on that aspect, seems lacking. When one becomes empowered, clearly it is easier for that person to build up others, so that decision is twice blessed. However, what does it really mean, when we say we/they are empowered?

2:Timothy 2;15 states the following;
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Once this is accomplished, here is what’s said in John 3:16, about empowering others.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

No need to be ashamed, no need for appearances. God (and the rest of the world) wants to see the real you. That is mightily empowering!

Then, using the example of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, we see empowerment for others, in action. Obviously there were many reasons for what happened to Jesus; my interpretation of this verse is “You are loved! You are cared for! You are equipped to move through this world in hope and dignity!”

Empowerment is a foundational trait of the Sacred Assignment; there are other words for it. Self-respect, self-efficacy, confidence.Yet, they all boil down to true empowerment.

. Anyone who is ever dealt with the misery of feeling trapped, stuck or victimized, will usually say that if only I had an escape hatch, or a fair shot in life, I would be plenty empowered!

The thing is, most circumstances have at least a few elements which we can control. Notice I didn’t say all circumstances are that way. Sometimes, people are unceremoniously toppled; these struggles can flip an otherwise empowered person for a loop.

The difference is between response to the situation. Empowered people rise to fight another day. Those who perceive themselves as victims use misfortune to further perpetuate the story they’ve always told themselves.

Giving oneself permission to do what feels sound and solid, whatever that may be, and whoever may criticize. Giving others permission (although if they’re empowered they don’t necessarily need it…. and it certainly isn’t a form of approval) gives him/her a dependable source of acceptance and endorsement. Even the most empowered of us all needs that affirmation, every now and again!

What does all of this have to do with the Sacred Assignment? Well, actually, a couple of things:

A. A sense of empowerment, that we are enough, that we can do many wonderful things…. is essential. Those who feel personally incapable will struggle with fulfilling Sacred Assignments. In fact, they may not even see them clearly, and even if they do, they  might believe the job is for someone who is “up to the task.” 

B.. More often than not, Sacred Assignments are tough! They purposely stretch and challenge a person to grow. Growth is rooted in empowerment. 

Regardless of which belief camp you belong to ( Christian, Judaism, Spiritual, but not religious, humanistic theory, atheism , etc,) the concept of empowerment is an issue on which we all can agree. Learned helplessness never serves anyone… and certainly, it never serves those around him/her!

Please don’t misunderstand… I am in no way suggesting that bad things are just an illusion, and one should be able to bounce back, quickly and easily. My perspective is quite the opposite. There will be things in life that overwhelm, knock the wind out of you and make you question everything you thought you ever knew. The difference between one who is empowered and one who feels helpless, though, is this:

The empowered person understands the nature of life. S/he looks for ways to problem solve and improve the situation, but s/he is also realistic about what can actually be achieved. The empowered person takes responsibility, tries to do everything in his/her power to make things right, then lets go of the rest.

On the other hand, the person with a sense of learned helplessness just sits back, waiting for the  deluge to come. Each time s/he is engulfed in a negative situation, s/he is more convinced that there is no way to be the architect of one’s life. This is an understandable reaction, given a victim mentality. However, it is not healthy, for mind, body or spirit. It is also a HUGE barrier to completing Sacred Assignments. 

There must be a co-agency, between oneself and a Higher Power, to navigate the twists and turns of life. The person who will cross the finish line is the one who believes s/he will cross, with flying colors.Additionally, along the way. s/he will be able to offer unique gifts, contributions that are singular.

We need everyone’s participation, to get this work of the world completed. Please consider the act of giving yourself a personalized permission to handle the assignments. Then, in your time, please assist others in finding their empowerment and abilities. Empowerment is one of the bedrocks of the Sacred Assignment; it does not boast, it is not conceited or superficial. It’s the quiet voice that reassures….. listen and act accordingly!

Change and Growth, Courage in the Face of Adversity

Tick-Tock: Assignments and Timing

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Timing-is-everything

“You don’t have to swing hard to hit a home run. If you got the timing, it’ll go.” – Yogi Bera

Yogi Bera is one of the best known figures in the sport of baseball; as  a catcher, manager and coach, he  seemed to instinctively understand what was required to bring out the best… in himself and others. Clearly, technical skill served as the foundation that led to Bera’s greatness, but there was more happening than met the eye. He understood/understands that timing is pivotal, in all endeavors. In this realm, time is both our best friend and our worst enemy.

For those looking to fulfill the Sacred Assignment, timing can honestly pose problems…. even crises of faith.  One tries to respect it, and recognize its signs, but time is mercurial.  When one is eager to accomplish a certain task, time can seem interminable. College graduates know all about this, that last semester of school. Managers can relate, as they try to speed their employees along These two examples illustrate the weary traveler, who can at least see the light at the end of the tunnel. Much like the Salvador Dali piece Persistence of Memory, the minutes seem to slowly melt into hours… excruciating. We can see the assignment completed, it’s just taking so long!  Given the fact that vocation is part of each person’s Sacred Assignment, this tussle with time can get very real, causing one to feel caged and restrained… even though there’s an end in sight.

Then, there are times when timing dovetails with the Sacred Assignment in a way that some describe as serendipity, others refer to it as fate….. some chalk it up to phenomenal luck. Any way you slice it, there’s nothing quite as rewarding as when Father time appears to “get it” ….. the phone call from one’s best friend, right as one felt ready to fly into a million pieces, the unexpected financial windfall which enables one to take care of business, many times for necessities, not luxuries. The well-timed talk with one’s boss, the perfect timing surrounding an important discussion with one’s significant other….. the list could go on and on… but timing can absolutely be our ally, as we search for ways to best fulfill Assignments.

Where time gets trickiest, is its illusive nature. On a conscious level, we’re all aware that time is finite… at least as it applies to individual lives.  Yet, so much competes for our attention, we sometimes lose sight. Nothing snaps a person into line quite like an unanticipated event, serving as a reminder that life is strange, beautiful and fragile. Some of these reminders are happy; an adult child getting married, the birth of a baby, that college graduate referred to, above, finally walking across the stage. These milestones are supremely bittersweet, for some who are involved. Weddings, births, graduations…. all happy occasions…. but also tangible evidence that time is marching on….. depending on the person, this can tilt toward bitter, for a little bit… even though it’s all an intertwined Sacred Assignment, with every player necessary to produce the ultimate result. The shifting sands of time just remind us that it’s time to adapt to new parts of the Assignment, which can bring some trepidation.

Time, through the prism of lifespan, is the most sober assessment of all. We come here, with a Sacred Assignment, and all these mini-assignments…. we just want to make sure we have ample time to get it all completed. Co-agency allows us to make the best of our time, but it doesn’t happen by accident. The well-lived life, with maximized time usage, is always by design.

What about the times when we feel we are being blocked from fulfilling an Assignment? We’re so close to making certain things happen, we can just taste them…. but the timing is off. A metaphysical approach to time, in these seasons, seems to work best, for calming the inevitable inner storm. Nothing can feel more frustrating than the obstacle of time…. one is ready to begin a particular career path, to serve with his/her talents, but the market isn’t cooperating. A man or woman is ready to enter into a long-term relationship with his/her object of affection, with the solid belief that their love for each other will enrich all who surround them…. yet, the timing isn’t right. In relationships, there a million reasons why timing is off, which can affect everything, from a successful conversation that could potentially become volatile, to creation of the relationship itself. When we feel called to a certain result, and time, a factor we can’t control, stands in the way? Well…… GRRRR!

However, maybe not…. maybe there is a method to it all, in the end. The interim can  feel like torture… Sacred Assignments are not always uncomplicated, and timing can be one of the wrenches that interferes. Maybe, just maybe, this is when we’re invited to summon our faith, do what we can, take satisfaction in our efforts…. and let go. According to all kinds of conventional wisdom, time can do miraculous things… it can heal a broken heart, it can restore and reconcile….. so even while it sometimes seems to thwart efforts, it also supports, much more often than not. The key is learning to work with time, using its pace to one’s advantage. Growth and learning are always good things; learning to work with time, on its terms, may actually be a mini-assignment for us all…. harkening back to the age-old admonition to use our time wisely. I would add gratitude… gratitude for refinement, and the time it takes to appreciate the gifts of discernment, temperance, faith and patience. We all just cultivate these gifts as we bide our time, in whatever direction the Assignment takes us.

"Accidents", Detours, Joy, Pain….. All Parts of Each Person's Sacred Assignment.

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