Psalms 103 * 148; Genesis 17:1-12a, 15-16; Col 2:6-12; John 16:23b-30I have lived in urban areas for most of my adult life, and I find myself missing the verve and life-beat of urban settings when I am away from them for any span of time. This does not mean that I don't yearn for quiet and solitude: those are (perhaps) harder to find in an urban oasis, but not impossible.
One of the reasons I get up early (besides habit) is to enjoy the quiet of city-life: in particular on Saturday and Sunday and Holiday mornings. Very few people are up and about early on weekend mornings, in particular after a "big-night" like last night. And the energy of all those thousands of souls sleeping all around is present, juxtaposed against the quiet of the morning.
Today I was walking Allie down by the Washington Inlet (an offshoot of where the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers join together). There was a thin sheet of ice covering the water. A mist was rising from the river and from the Haines Point golf course across the inlet. And there was a noise: not from cars or planes or people chatting. There was a clicking sound pervading the area, emanating from the middle of the inlet. Hundreds of birds were resting on that thin coat of ice and the noise that I was surrounded by was coming from their movements and pecking on that thin coat of ice....quiet and nature carrying on in the midst of urban energy.
On this first day of a new calendar year, when we celebrate and commemorate Jesus' naming (and circumcision {ouch}), remembering the wonders of God's creations all around us, finding some moments before the football games take over our awareness to appreciate the gift of life and the love that surrounds us, is a grand way to enter into a New Year. Resolutions are not necessary, for we only break those as quickly as we can say them. Acknowledging the love God has for all of us and the gift of Jesus' life and ministry for us to model, is enough for the start of these 365 days.
May wonders and joy and love and curiosity imbue this year, no matter our station or circumstances. Happy New Year.
jfd+
Copyright 2011, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment