As we sat down, I found myself looking at a wall and reliving my childhood. From the time I was four or five through to my tenth year, I remember time spent in from of a black and white television with rabbit ears and Warner Bros. cartoons. As much as I think I have moved beyond the animation of that time, a recent television series had references to Mr. Magoo which again took me back.
With time, I find myself seeing things that have endured in a different light. Frequently, my understanding of then and now changes. Time brings a perspective along with the potential of new insights, changing my awareness of what was going on in the past as well as what is unfolding in the present.
Divinity has always been a part of my life. I did not know her by name when I was young. I could feel her presence in my experiences of being loved, encountering kindness, and witnessing acts of care. When I look back, I can see the footprints of Divinity throughout my life. As I open myself up, I realise she is actively present today.
As I see the present differently, I look at the past with new eyes. I recall intense periods of feeling alone. In the reflection this morning, remembering the time with brothers, pets, and friends, I find myself belonging to a family that always cared. The new awareness is a play on Paul’s observation; “From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the Message, it looks like the Jews are God’s enemies. But looked at from the long-range perspective of God’s overall purpose, they remain God’s oldest friends.” (Romans 11.28)
In welcoming old friends back into my life, I find myself filled with hope and new energy. Even though we have not spoken for some time, the conversations, wisdom, and friendship endure. Today is an opportunity to take this with me as fuel for courage and hope. Life is for living, with the past and in the present.
