It seems that we have been preparing for Easter since the decorations for Christmas were taken down. The chocolate and the sunny scenes have, somehow, been in the ether since we downed our last sherry cocktail and declined our last turkey sandwich.
Is it me or is the 'getting ready' for Easter (which has no relationship to Lent) some form of filling the collective existential vacuum that inhabits so many lives? Are we so spiritually and emotionally bankrupt that we need to get ready for another form of gluttony and tomfoolery soon after the last one went?
I see it when autumn arrives; we have Hallowe'en, Guy Fawkes night (a anti-Catholic festival, but we all seem to ignore that); and then it's Christmas (not Advent, Xmas). Then it's New Year's, Burns Night, then Easter - even though Easter is not for a couple of months. What's that all about?
I believe that 'living in the moment' could be an impossibility for many people, until we recognise the need to take stock once in a while and be real about our lives. Am I just living from one 'hit' of hedonism to another? What is my life without that 'hit'?
The church can bring people to their sense, by living John 10:10 lives - Jesus says 'I came that you may have life and to live it abundantly'. This is not about busy-ing ourselves; but to live knowing that life is worth living, everything big and little thing in it.
When we recognise our need to live life fully, God brings us to our sense and is guiding us to see what life - all of it - can bring.
gillyk
Hi Ben
I really like this. I wonder what would happen if the church's festival days slipped out of current usage altogether? Like you I don't think it would be long before other things took their place - after all, we're coming up to red nose day, not that that's a bad thing.
I've been talking with another friend about living in the moment. Have you read any of the stuff on 'practising the presence of God'? It's hard to do because we are always planning in our heads for the next few things - especially in the west, where we like to get organised! Other cultures don't bother and can't understand why we make such a fuss about it.
It's another thing to learn from kids - they are much better at living in the moment.
all God's best
Gill