Sacramental living


When you pay attention to boredom,
it gets unbelievably interesting. –Jon Kabat-Zinn


For Christians, the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist remind us of God’s intimate presence in our lives. They are sacred moments when God seems this close; sometimes, we wish that closeness could go on forever.

Jean Pierre de Caussade coined a wonderful phrase: the Sacrament of the Present Moment. This moment, this day will never come again, and God is present here, as well, in intimate ways that will never come to pass in just the same way, ever again. Every moment of every day is sacred and wonderful. When was the last time you stopped to enjoy the moment, just as it is, and be grateful?

Time is sometimes compared to a flowing river. We trail our fingers through the waters or stand in it ankle-deep, but as we wander downstream, the water is not the same water we were in before. Always flowing, always advancing, never to return again—and changed by our presence therein.

In this first full week of Lent, I challenge you to take note, enjoy the world around you using all five senses. For five days, pause and experience, in deliberate stillness, God’s Holy Presence in your life.

Slow down and enjoy. Take advantage of these last days of winter to draw closer to the Creator.

Monday Bundle up and head outdoors. Pause, tip your head back and look up. Now lower your gaze to the ground. What did you see? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tuesday Indoors or out, in your home or another place, pause for several minutes and listen deeply. Beyond the voices and traffic, tune your ear to an inner Voice. What do you hear?  Isaiah 64:4

Wednesday This time of year has its own peculiar smell. It can be hard to pick up on the “outdoorsy fragrance” of winter. Try it. Can you describe it? 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Thursday We require food for our very survival. Today, be very deliberate in choosing what you eat. As you eat, put your fork down between bites and really taste what you are eating. 
1 Peter 2:2-3

Friday Every surface of our bodies is sensitive to touch or contact. Hands, feet, elbows—all designed to tell us what our world “feels like.” Be aware of this today as you wash, as you walk, as you make your way in the world. Mark 5:24-34

Saturday As you pray for yourself today, be aware of the “complete package” that is you. Give thanks. Psalm 139:1-13

Sunday Look around you, Enjoy the moment with another. (Channel your inner Irishman. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!) Luke 14:12-14

I am going to try and pay attention to the spring. 
I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees.
I am going to close my eyes and listen. –Anne Lamott

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