Today’s Reflection
In Celtic spiritual traditions, the fluidity of time extends far beyond the stories of the saints. We encounter it, for instance, in the notion of thin places: spaces where the veil between worlds becomes transparent, and heaven and earth meet. … Thin places remind us that we travel in the presence of the communion of saints and in the company of the God who, in the person of Jesus, intersected and inhabited time. In taking flesh, God opened wide to time, to the effects of its passing, to the weight of chronology. Yet this God dwells also beyond time. It is a mystery, this simultaneous entering and shedding that God does with time. In the thin places, we are given a glimpse.
—Jan L. Richardson, In the Sanctuary of Women: A Companion for Reflection and Prayer (Upper Room Books, 2010)
Today’s Question
How does God’s relationship to time shape your perspective? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
—2 Peter 3:8 (NRSV)
Prayer for the Week
Lord, guide me to reflect on—and learn from—the decisions I made yesterday so that they might reshape the longings I have for tomorrow.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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7 Comments
I cannot fathom God existing beyond/without time. It is part of the mystery that I (begrudgingly?) accept. I am very time driven, time motivated, time aware. When dad and I were reading through the Heaven book – an aspect of it was that Heaven will basically be timeless…or there won’t be a need for time. Mind-blowing to me…cannot get a grasp on it.
Grateful for the good news regarding Amy, hope Julie receives equally good news. Louise – thank you for sharing about your friend. Absolutely love that he is “making the most of every minute”…may those around him soak up his goodness, his veracity. Thank You, Father – for the assistance Julie’s mom is receiving. May Julie be confident in her mom’s rehab.
How interesting that this is the very next thing I read:
Before being born into the world of time,
The silence of pre-existence was all absorbing.
The transition from eternity to time
Is full of sufferings, fears, and little deaths.
But, in the transition from death
To eternal life,
The silence of pre-existence
Bursts into boundless joy.
All that can be manifested emerges
From the endless creativity of
That Which Is.
But
The Secret Embrace
Of
The Source of all creation
With
Infinite Transcendence
Can
Never be revealed.
—Thomas Keating, “The Secret Embrace”
Thought it was worth sharing…seems to touch on the topic for today, as well as Louise’s comment.
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
————————————–
1 Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:
2 Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.
4 A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
5 The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
with all their lives and cares,
are carried downward by your flood,
and lost in foll’wing years.
6 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op’ning day.
7 Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come:
O be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home.
************************************
Isaac Watts
Tune: ST. ANNE
We are so time oriented it is hard to imagine before or after time. I understand the words, but the reality of this concept is hard to grasp. With God anything is possible. That idea helps. We also know that God is always present. There is no need to worry.
Watching, experiencing someone in the transition from this life to the next is one of the most heart felt, heart impacting times of our lives. It is part of life, we learn soon enough that it will happen and yet it still touches us greatly. It’s amazing how we do that. Love knows no end. Thank You, Lord for always being with us.
I’m very thankful for hospice. Many blessings come from this activity.
Thankful for the good health news, prayers that it continues. I too had good news, but from the periodontist.
Two covid cases here, both students. Prayers for the right action to heal those who are sick and stop the spread, Thank You, Lord.
As a physics major I studied time, its fluidity and how it bends and becomes distorted in space and with speed. So God’s time abilities and characteristics have not flustered me. I take it in stride as time is not an immutable substance even for humans.
Thank you for your prayers and my ultasound was clear. It was screening only but problems are found during screenings or they would be useless. The mammo was all dark again because my breasts are dense. Mom seems to be doing well. It is difficult being so far away and I am looking forward to seeing her at Thanksgiving. Thank you for your prayers. She moved into the senior living facility at the perfect time as they will make her apartment accommadating for her such as changing her bath to a walkin shower. She also has been given items fromothers in the complex to help such as a potty seat that fits over the tiolet to raise the seat so she can sit down and get up easier. I am thankful for God’s timing.
Prayers for Jill and thank you for sharing the lovely poem from Thomas Keating it did indeed address today’s topic in a lovely way.
Prayers for Marcy and I still hope we can talk soon and pray you are still migraine free.
Prayers for Robert and how wonderful that the periodonist had good news. Periodontal work is painful so this is indeed a blessing.
Prayers for Louise and her friend. Thank you, Lord, for Louise sharing with us this story and thankyou also that her friend is comforted by you to such a degree that he continues to teach and inspire through his faith.
Prayers for Ally and David, may they continue to gain more health, may current health issues be resolved soon and thank you for Amy’s clean mammo.
Many years ago, My sister and I had a conversation about eternity. She found the concept of eternity rather scary. I would not say I think it is scary but the mystery of how it works: how a day can be like a thousand years, that heaven can exist in another dimension, that space outside of our solar system is infinite; they are mysteries hard for me to comprehend. The concept of thin places is no less a mystery, but one I have experienced: dreams about my loved ones who have gone on in which I feel that they have been with me, or when I ask God for wisdom and then remember wise words from Mama or Daddy. There have been times in worship in which I felt as if the “cloud of witnesses” had joined us. I thank God for the thin places and that God does make all things beautiful in His time. We will understand it better bye and bye.
David’s wound on his back appears better, but we feel he should keep his appointment with the wound clinic to see if there is something we can do differently. Please pray with us for healing and restoration of healthy skin.
Many years ago, My sister and I had a conversation about eternity. She found the concept of eternity rather scary. I would not say I think it is scary but the mystery of how it works: how a day can be like a thousand years, that heaven can exist in another dimension, that space outside of our solar system is infinite; they are mysteries hard for me to comprehend. The concept of thin places is no less a mystery, but one I have experienced: dreams about my loved ones who have gone on in which I feel that they have been with me, or when I ask God for wisdom and then remember wise words from Mama or Daddy. There have been times in worship in which I felt as if the “cloud of witnesses” had joined us. I thank God for the thin places.
David’s wound on his back appears better, but we feel he should keep his appointment with the wound clinic to see if there is something we can do differently. Please pray with us for healing and restoration of healthy skin.
Jill, the poem really spoke to where I am in my understanding of time and eternity. Thank you for posting it for us. I pray you are still feeling strong and well. Marcy, O God, Our Help in Ages Past is one of my very favorite hymns. God has used it to teach and sustain me since I was a middle schooler. It was a blessing to sing it today. Praying that you are feeling well and remain migraine-free. Robert, I will be much in prayer for the students positive with COVID-19. Praying that folks are taking proper precautions for safety. Praying that you stay safe. Julie, thank you for connecting physics to our perceptions of time. I’ve read a little string theory and quantum physics. The concept of time travel is fascinating. Good news about your mom’s entry to senior living. Will be praying for progress in rehab. Louise, thank you for sharing about your friend who has entered hospice care. I pray that he and his loved ones feel the Lord’s presence. God uses us right up to our transition to eternity, if we let Him. I’m so thankful for hospice. God spoke to us today through the lectionary passages, today’s reading, and through one another. What a blessing.
Sorry part of this posted twice. Blessings to all.
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