Now is the time
In her delightful book, Life is a Verb, Patti Digh writes about a visit to Washington D.C. She has traveled to meet her husband, David. Her flight arrives in the afternoon, so they decide to grab a cup of tea before dinner, choosing a restaurant near Dupont Circle. It is a little after 3 p.m. and there are only four tables occupied.
They order drinks. When the waiter returns, he asks, “What can I get you?”
“What I’d really love,” Patti tells him, “is a piece of toast, and this side of avocado slices.” She points to the menu.
“Oh. I’m sorry,” the waiter says, beginning a statement (writes Digh) that would mark The End of Civilization As We Know It; “I’m sorry, but it’s past toast time.”
Blink.
“Past toast time?”
“Yes, ma’am, it’s past toast time.”
“Wow. And here I never actually knew there was an official toast time.”
The waiter’s demeanor, impervious.
She thought about asking whether they had a toaster. And bread. And electricity. But decided against it.
Talk about the light-bulb-of-enlightenment. There are moments that define our days. And it’s reassuring to know that in certain reputable establishments, we have Official Toast Time.
I did laugh out loud when I read her story, but truth be told, her story is not that uncommon, especially now. We all live, or experience parts of life with some kind of wacky blinders. It probably has something to do with our craving for comfort. Or security. Or likely, what we assume is the perception of control; (you know, “life won’t inconvenience us, or hurt us here”).
It reminds me of Robert Capon’s insight that we live like ill-taught piano students. So concerned about playing the right notes, we never hear the music.
Bottom line: we close our ears and eyes to anything—any notes—outside the box (outside of “toast time”—the box that somehow makes us feel untroubled).
But let’s be clear: “hearing the music” is not about sacrificing moral clarity, or engagement, or determination.
It is just the opposite. “Hearing the music” is about nurturing personal grounding, which gives our engagement a soul, and gives our soul a voice.
Hearing the music is an invitation to live fully into this moment, cultivating authenticity, integrity and transparency. Yes. A calling to be our best selves, through silence and song, through community and ritual, through listening and compassionate presence.
Because the music, wakes us up (as our Buddhist friends would remind us).
So, let’s just say that “Official Toast Time” distracts and derails us, because we too easily settle for numb. As if feeling insulated (numb), or inattentive, keeps us from seeing truths too disconcerting to see.
I do know this: Digh’s story is a wakeup call for me.
“Toast time” is another way of say; “Now is not the time.”
Lord have mercy.
So. Let’s pause. And hit the reset button.
Because, now is the time. Now is the time to be involved. Now is the time to “get in the game”. To commit. To promise. To make a stand.
This I know: I believe that we all want to make a difference. Or make the world a better place where peace and mercy and compassion are alive and well.
So, my friends. Let your light shine, in whatever small way you can.
Let us, “Honor the dignity of every human being
Speak the truth to one another in love
Walk humbly with each other and our God.”
(Thank you, Bishop Marianne Budde)
This morning, St. Peter’s Square was sun-drenched as Pope Leo XIV presided over his inaugural Mass. (This is ten days after his election, as we watched history’s first pope from the United States.)
In his homily, which I watched gratefully, on my computer, Pope Leo made it clear he intends to use his new platform to emphasize a message of peace and love to counter a divided world at war. Christians, he said, must offer a different witness “so that all may experience God’s embrace.”
Yes. Now is the time. To be involved. To make a stand.
“Brothers and sisters,” Pope Leo said, “I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.
In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world.
This is the missionary spirit that must animate us; not closing ourselves off in our small groups, nor feeling superior to the world. We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.”
Leo used his homily to call the church toward humility, and pledged to lead by example. “Peter must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him,” he said. The office of the pope “is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or by means of power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving as Jesus did.”
(A shout out to the National Catholic Reporter)
My heart feels heavy for the many lives that were lost in devastating tornadoes in Kentucky, Illinois, and Virginia. And our hearts go out to these families and communities, as they experience this painful reminder of how fragile life is, and how indispensable healing and compassion are in times of need.
Quote for our week…
“What Jesus never said: ‘Feed the hungry only if they have papers.’ ‘Clothe the naked only if they’re from your country.’ ‘Welcome the stranger only if there’s zero risk.’ ‘Help the poor only if it’s convenient.’ ‘Love your neighbor only if they look like you.’” Fr. Jim Martin
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Today’s Photo Credit: “Good morning Terry! I just got back from walking the Variente Espiritual of the Camino Portuguese. The Ruta de Piedra y Agua was the most inspirational stage.” Patricia Reilly (Monterey, CA)… Thank you Patricia… And thank you to all, I love your photos… please, keep sending them… send to terryhershey.com
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Letters that do my heart good…
–Thank you! Your message gives me light in the darkness! Lorraine
–Hi Terry, Amazing S.M. yesterday. “So much to do…”, so poignant. Some years ago I was laid off from a job, and thought about going off and doing missionary work. But as soon as that crossed my mind, I got scared of leaving everyone and all I knew. I was living in Poway, CA, and got a message from God, “Go be a missionary in Poway.” I learned going to a far-off place is important, but having a missionary mindset is also significant. And there is work all around us, and plenty to do. And God had me spill light right around me. Ian
–Terry, You are “Terry” when you write these beautiful and thoughtful reflections that you then share with all of us. The angel need not ask you that question because “you are”. Ina
–Thank you! I lost my son to suicide, mental illness remain something we cannot get through to others. Without God, faith, family and friends, I don’t think I would have made it. I love reading Sabbath Moment and usually use for Monday morning devotion. I will always treasure meeting you in North Carolina! J
–Hi Terry! Blessings and joy to you on your travel adventures! It is so good to read where you go and about where the peace, questions, and laughter come from.
It’s almost comical that you chose to be the spiritual director and guide that you have; because now, you almost have to practice what you preach, so-to-speak. And by that, I mean taking time for the pause. On the road, it’s a different kind of pause, but I anticipate you are taking moments to vacation with the grace of God in the faces of those with whom you’re meeting. This afternoon, my five-year-old granddaughter and I experienced the pause as we lay on our backs on my hardwood floor. What she told me, we wanted to, “Be really ON the floor and feel the floor that the person who built your house ‘feeled’ when he first came inside.” Terry, That was my sacred moment, right there. The angels speak to us through children and the message is profound! Peace, Sheila
