Journal of Sacred Work

[The following meditation was written by Karen York, Vice President, Alive Hospice of Nashville.]

   It’s that time of
year when everyone says, “I can’t believe it’s that time of year again. Where does
the time go?” I never really know how to
answer this question. Time is time. The
clock ticks away at the same rhythm day in and day out – tick, tick, tick. Admittedly, I am amazed at the rapidity of
life’s cycle and often wonder if I am being beaten down by the clock or
allowing it to serve as a reminder of the importance of loving presence…

   All the hurry and scurry involved with holidays begins earlier and earlier
each year. In my effort to remain
present to all things autumn and Thanksgiving, I resented being pushed into
Christmas. Even before the third week of November rolled around, neighbors were
dressing their houses with Christmas lights. I celebrated the one home that posted pilgrims and turkeys in their
yard. I wanted to stop and thank them, but was nearly run down by the host of
people behind me on their way to the early “Black Friday” sales. I pushed back
at the flood of 24-hour Christmas music that started on Thanksgiving. In the
grocery store I cringed at bellows of “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”
while deciding between Snuggle or Downey
fabric softener.
   Now, with
Valentine’s Day behind us, we are surrounded with decorations for Spring and
bunnies and colored eggs; and on it goes.
   My hope for all
of us is that we slow ourselves long enough to breathe in the scent of winter,
before the first bloom of Spring. I hope
we taste the bitter and the sweet that today brings before wishing that
tomorrow would come.
   While we
anticipate all the good that is to be in the coming year, let us live in the
moment. For love happens in the moment. And in that moment, we are timeless.

[Note: Clock cartoon, above, with each hour-point marked "Now" is by Steinberg for The New Yorker]