Remembering Things that Didn’t Happen

Today is Victoria Day. Is it different for you than it has been in previous years? Of course, it is. For many it is decidedly different. The May Long Weekend is one that is often taken up by travel. I can’t remember the last time my family was home on the May Long Weekend, but here we are. This pandemic has us, in a way, remembering things that did not happen, recalling events that will not take place. Have you done this yet? It goes something like this,  “Well, it’s May 18, this is where we were supposed to be today (in this other place).” 

Have you missed the things that have not happened? We can learn a lot in letting go. Granted for some it has been much more difficult or painful than for others. We may have missed a weekend away while some others have had a job offer rescinded or have had to dramatically alter plans for education. 

There are spiritual practices that come into our lives out of no choice of our own. The practice of fasting (from food or experiences or entertainment) is a spiritual practice intended in part to show us that we don’t need a lot of what we think we need. It can create the space to consider spiritual things rather than to be caught up in pursuit of appetite satisfaction. 

Remembering things that didn’t happen, then can be a gift. We are not there, where we are supposed to be right now; but we are okay. And God is good; here and now. 

Matthew chapter 6 (words of Jesus) 

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” 

James 4:13-15  

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”