Invoke, or Not, God is with Us

"Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit"

"Invoked or not invoked, God is present."

This Latin quote was made popular by Carl Jung, the eminent psychologist, who had the quote inscribed over the front door of his house (sounds like a Hebrew spiritual practice, yes?), as well as on his tombstone. This phrase comes to mind as I once again become aware of the beautiful changes occurring around us in God’s beloved creation this fall season. With the changing of the seasons I am reminded again that life is always evolving, moving from one season of change to another.

If you are reading this blog in the Northern Hemisphere and go outside after reading these words, you will definitely feel the change in the air about you.

There is no doubt - fall is here. Well yes, technically, of course, it has been her for a while, as fall officially started with the autumnal equinox in September. But, until the weather changes in earnest, I don’t always feel like fall is here. Waking up this cooled morning it was confirmed in me, fall is here! Summer vacations are over. School is back in session. The calendar has begun to fill up. Baseball is in the post-season, football is back on our minds and televisions (you must remember a  red blooded American male is the author of this blog). We are “back at it again,” so to speak. We’re working our way through the passing of another season and the shift of “life- rhythms” that comes with such a change.

As we pass through these seasonal changes and the way our “life patterns” move along with them, I find myself reflecting on what all this means for us. Each season seems to be a “container,” a “vessel,” a “holder,” if you will, for very important aspects of our lives. Summer brings freer schedules and much needed time for respite and relaxation. Summer is a time for our lives to “breath” a little. It’s a season to step back, relax and to take account. This is good. The movement from summer to fall, however, seems to be marked by settling back into fixed schedules, and a more structured way of life. And this is good too. God is in the structures and schedules, just as much as God is in the free times for play and fun.

Our lives need structures and schedules; we need “containers” within which to place our lives. (These “life containers” is one metaphor to help understand our baptismal vows, and for some who have taken other vows laid upon that first ordination, such as marriage, holy orders ordination, or religious life.) Yet, moving through the changes that different seasons bring is not always easy.  I have faith, however, that if we can see God in these changes, see them as a natural part of our lives, and as something that shapes and forms us, then I think we can grow from the challenge it is to adjust to such change.

This is true for not only the seasons in our natural world, but also the “seasons” we travel through in our spiritual lives.  Changes are challenging. But, with challenge comes growth. The challenges of change are not easy, but with God’s grace in the mix, these challenges can become great blessings in our lives. There are things such as “blessed changes and challenges” within our lives. Why, you might ask? Because God is in such challenges and shifts.

So, as we get “back at it again” this fall with new schedules and structures for our lives, may we always be mindful that God is in these moments. May we be watchful for God’s continued presence and active work in our lives. And yes, God is just as active and present in the lives we live in the fall, as the lives we lived in the summer. So, be expectant, be watchful – God is with you! "Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit" "Invoked or not invoked, God is present."

A fellow student of the Way learning to live in a God saturated world,

Fr. Jason+ 

To-dos, Common Sense, and the Spirit

I unlock the door to my office at 9:00 a.m. and turn on my laptop. And there it is: my multi-color-coded calendar and the “to-do-list” for the day that was aggregated by my “oh so smart” computer (yes, it even parses Greek verbs for me!). My list is compiled of contacts that need to be made, appointments to attend, and tasks to accomplish across a whole spectrum of responsibilities. I am sure it is very similar to those lists of you who read this blog now: personal contacts, meetings, and things to produce. Oh how it easy it is to fill a day! And thanks be to God for a computer that helps me sort all of this out.

I find that in the midst of such busyness I often need to be reminded that the Spirit is active and present in the “all of life.” This is not extraordinary. It just is. I believe the Spirit is present in the most ordinary, mundane things of the day. God is active and present in our many phone calls, meetings, visitations, and yes, our filling out expense and budget reports.

Much of the Spirit’s direction is found in everyday, ordinary stuff. A lot of co-operating and participating with the Spirit’s movement is just following through with a daily schedule and keep up with the common sense practices of pastoral practice. I don’t agonize about the Spirit’s direction when a report needs filling out or a deadline needs to be met. I don’t need to pray for leading concerning a visitation that needs to be made. My schedule might get a little out of whack and I need to adjust a few things to make it happen. But, it is common sense, if someone needs a visit; I just go and do it.

I’ve found that a lot of the Spirit’s presence is found in common sense. Morning prayer is a mater of common sense. For me, Tuesday morning writing time (my best thinking and reflecting time) is just common sense. Not much administration is going to get done for me on Tuesday mornings. That is when I am most connected creatively with the Spirit’s stirrings in me over Scripture and the life of the world, so that is when I write. Planned and protected (that is key…protect it with all you have!) reading and writing time is just common sense. Connecting with key leaders in life-giving, affirming and forward moving ways, is just common sense. Taking time off to walk in the woods and listen to good music is just common sense.

These regular scheduled, mundane events are where the Spirit is active in life. My spiritual director once told me, “Jason, the spiritual life is not out there in some ideal setting, some monastery, some ‘perfect nest’ you have feathered for yourself. The life of the Spirit it is right in the midst of your frustration with your kids, stresses with your wife, trying to write sermons, and make all your calls and visits.” And, now that I have a few more years under my belt since he gave me this direction, I see just how right Fr. Ed was. Very often the Spirit leads us through common sense of just doing what the “to-do-list” tells us what to do. Common sense things to do: that is where the Spirit is at work.  And, thanks be to God, it is that same Spirit that gives us the power to accomplish all that God has given us to do for God’s purposes!