In the blink of an eye

      A common lament of parents is how fast the kids grow up. My own 'baby' is now 36 with two children of her own. Where did the time go? The same could be said for the job I retired from. I worked at the same facility for 37 years, man did that zoom by, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

      One might be tempted to note from today's passage, and rightfully so, the prayers of Jesus asking ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want'  and the implications that has in our own lives. But as usual, there are more messages in Scripture than meets the eye. What of the disciples that can't seem to stay awake?  When last they are awoken by our Lord, Jesus notes that 'the hour is at hand' when he will be betrayed, suffer, die and rise. I can see them rubbing their eyes and saying "say what?"

         If we are not terribly attentive to what is going on, we run the risk of non-participation, not being involved with life as it unfolds around us, we might miss some rather important stuff.  Someone once noted that no one ever said on their death bed, "I wish I had worked more" ( and thereby spent less time with their family ).  Time seems to fly even when you try to be attentive. Imagine what we miss?  There are roses to smell, new mown hay and a world of sunsets, sunrises and smiles to be observed and inspired by.  If we are 'sleeping' we will miss more than we know.

         I can only imagine the guilt and feelings of stupidity of those that 'slept' through the last presidential election and finding out now what that failure to participate has wrought.  Sometimes you miss a second or two and nothing happens, sometimes you blink and you go right off a cliff.

        The lesson I choose to think more about is the keeping my eyes wide open and trying to be more attentive to what is going on. Now it involves watching my grandchildren grow and inspiring them to be the best that they can be.  I do not ever want to be an absentee parent or an absentee citizen or worst, an absentee believer.

Matthew 26:36-46

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’  He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’ Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again he went away for the second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’