Time and Place

Chris and I got away for an overnight last week. We drove up on Monday and came back on Tuesday. We went to Plymouth, Massachusetts particularly to go whale watching and to visit the Plimouth Plantation (that's really how they spell it). We also did a tour of the Mayflower II, and of course we feasted on fine food and had morning coffee by the water at the harbor. 

It was a quick trip, and as was the case when we went to Maine for three days back in June, we wished we could have had more time. But it seems like summer has slipped away from us. As many of you know, especially if you read my last posting, we were very occupied taking care of all the things that were involved with my brother-in-law's illness and eventual passing. It was a busy and often very difficult time. We don't regret for a minute any of the the things we had to do--we did them out of love and devotion. Of course, I want to make it very clear that it was really Chris who had the full responsibility on her shoulders. I was mostly a support person for her.

Monday--Labor Day--we went to the beach. It was virtually empty because it was overcast and a bit on the rainy side. As you know, most people want the sun to shine brightly as they sit by the sea or lie out on their beach towels soaking up the rays. We, however, like the beach in all kinds of weather (with a few exceptions like hurricanes, for instance). 

I mostly sat in my beach chair contemplating my life as a semi-retired United Methodist minister. While I was doing that, a memory came surging back into my consciousness. I remembered that one time many years ago I asked a youth group what they would ask God if they were granted the privilege of asking God one question. They all had similar answers, mostly about their destinies of love, wealth, fame, and happiness in the future. Then they wanted to know what I would ask God and I told them that I would ask "What time is it, really?" 

What I meant by that was what time is it in the chronology of my life expectancy? what time is it in the stretch of human existence? what time is it in the life of this planet on which we live?

The thing is, I'm not sure I would really want to know the answer. For instance, if I had known such a thing as some of the unfoldings of my life story, say, back when I was a teenager or in my early twenties, I may have been scared to death to go on. But the thing is, I didn't know and I did go on, just taking it one day at a time (there's really no choice in the matter). There have been some scary times, painful times, uncertain times, sad times, and confusing times. I think that's true for mostly everybody.

However I've always seemed to have been all right through it all. As many times as when things have been unpleasant that I have been inclined to say, "Why me?" there were equally as many times or many, many more times when things have been wonderful and I have said "Why me?" So I guess the answer to the question about "what time is it really?" is that it is the appointed time for me to walk on this planet for now--don't worry about tomorrow. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in his essay Self Reliance, "Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events." And if I read correctly between the lines, the word is that you're going to be all right through it all.