eternity in a minute

I have only just a minute,

Only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon me, can’t refuse it.

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.

But it’s up to me

to use it.

I must suffer if I lose it.

Give account if I abuse it.

Just a tiny little minute,

but eternity is in it.

                     Dr. Benjamin E. Mays (used by Elijah Cummings

                     in his first presentation before the House)

________________________________________

I remember one of my children saying,

when mired in the angst of adolescence,

“I didn’t ask to be born”

I didn’t either!

Did you?

It is one of those profound mysteries,

the fact that I am here

the fact that any of us

sentient beings that we are,

are here

some suggest we are just an accident

the result of some chance meeting of sperm and eggs

others believe that we are no accident

but part of a mystical plan

that we are, each one of us, intended,

planned for,

if not by our biological parents

at least by Sacred intent

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I set you apart” (Jer. 1:5)

there is something powerful in the idea

that each one of us is “on purpose” and,

by implication, have “a purpose”

there is something compelling

in the idea that there is indeed meaning and purpose

to each life

that we are not accidents

but intentional

purposed by Sacred

not only purposed, by known by Sacred

named

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you,

O Jacob, he who formed you,

O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.”  (Isaiah 43:1)

I am here, you are here

because we have been given this moment,

this minute in eternity

on purpose

for a reason

What is that reason?

Did God really intend, from the dawn of eternity

That I be exactly who I am?

I hope not!

for all too often I badly blur the divine image

does God decide

this person will be a doctor, that one a teacher

that one a rancher, that one an EMT?

I am doubtful that it is that specific

But I do believe this

God intended that each of us carry the divine image

And that image is Love

We were put on this earth to love

We were put on this earth to love others for God

In whatever role we find ourselves taking

We were put here to love

We were “called” to be God’s

Generous

Compassionate

Kind

Giving

Children

For better or worse

Here we are

In this world, with all its problem

In this world which seems to be disintegrating around us

In this world which is filled with hate and anger and greed

In this violent and brutal world

Which tears people apart

And we are called to help put people back together again

To be islands of compassion

To “walk each other home”

That is why I am here

That is why you are here

That is why we have gotten up this morning

Today I will drive over mountains

Set up for a meeting

Help run a meeting

All day I will be busy doing “stuff”

But there were be people in this day

Who will encounter me

Bringing with them fears, and hope

Pain and joy

It is my job

Really my only job

To see them

Hear them

Connect with them

Love them

I am not here to be a “minister”

or a “stated clerk”

or a “therapist”

I am here to be a Child of God

A person so permeated by the presence of Love

That I touch other people with love

not my love, but God’s love

I am here to bring Sacred, eternity

into this moment

I have only just a minute,

Only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon me, can’t refuse it.

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.

But it’s up to me

to use it.

I must suffer if I lose it.

Give account if I abuse it.

Just a tiny little minute,

but eternity is in it.