Creating grace periods

We are now in the season of Lent. Prayer, fasting, almsgiving - so much is written about these spiritual acts, and we can read any number of good articles to understand why we pray, fast and give. I have been ruminating on how I can make my Lenten season count. Regardless of the liturgical season, I already put effort into all three associated Lenten activities, so what more can I do that would make these next few weeks, personally, more meaningful, and transformative, that will bring me closer to Jesus?

Meeting with my SD recently inspired me. The most important takeaway I got from him was to listen. Be still and know that He is God, the Almighty who does marvellous things for me, and holy is His name. The best way to be still is in prayer. “Prayer is the gift of time we give to the One we love.” I thought that such a profound statement. We were talking earlier about how God is out of time and how there are no such things as coincidences or luck – it is the goodness of God in our lives, it is He who blesses us in all things. We simply need the eyes of gratitude to see where our blessings fall each day, and that requires an awareness of God that comes from prayer.

My main frustration with myself this period is fatigue, which leads to impatience and a short temper. But SD invited me to take on a new perspective on time. Instead of rushing around and getting stressed out when I feel that I am falling behind my schedule, I need to slow time down, make it stretch, but, most especially, to make time for what is important, that is, the relationships I have in my life.

If my priority is relationships, and it is, then I need to ensure that every person I encounter, in any given day, is perceived and treated with proper dignity and respect. I need to be loving and life-giving. Mostly, I need to follow His lead with whom I should get in touch – often I think of certain individuals when I pray, but I don’t follow up on reaching out to them. I don’t make time to express how I feel about them properly. Many lost opportunities thus far.

Just as I decided not to sacrifice my quality time with my grandkids by trying to beat the clock when I drop them off at school so as to avoid paying the parking fee of $1.20, I can choose to slow time down. The $1.20 is worth the extra time of contact with them, a true grace period. Best of all, there are days when I actually do make the grace period despite not rushing my goodbyes, and I get to park for free, a bonus!

I have decided for this Lent that I will create grace periods with people, grace periods that involve wasting time with people, choosing to make quality time for others by being wholly present. When I act with an open heart and give undivided attention to a person or task at hand, I am better able to respond to the Spirit who leads me in acting with wisdom and compassion as I go about my day. And I should always choose to act in freedom, without the constraints of time colouring my emotions and causing me to rush, and therefore be less present.

It’s inevitable that tension will arise from my strong compulsion to do everything, but I need to deal with conflicts of time and know what is important before I act; to step back and take a moment to figure out where I need to be before I rush headlong into the day. I am happy that I was able to hear and act out the promptings of the Spirit this weekend past, and it was a fruitful weekend of reconnecting with who I am and where I am called to serve, despite the busyness. Best of all, I managed to serve all my “grace recipients” with the proper posture of respect and compassion, and that has meant time well spent, productive and grace-filled.