More Staring
It's funny sometimes how your mind won't jump into a new gear. I posted on Ascension Day last Thursday about the disciples standing around and staring into space after Jesus' ascension. I then used that for the basis of a sermon this morning when I subbed for my wife at her congregation. Now, as I sit here wondering what to post for today I find myself stuck in that same thought. In other words I find myself sitting here and staring into space.

Suddenly I realize that I am not staring at "nothing." A few minutes ago I saw three grackles wandering around the yard across the driveway. They were looking for food in the grass. What I found interesting was that they were not fighting each other. They walked within a few feet of each other pecking and poking, each looking for their own food and not trying to take over anyone else's territory. What a thought.

Then I notice the thick planting of day lilies that are planted across the parking lot from the coffee shop where I am sitting. This is probably the third year since they were planted and they have really gotten thick. Right now they are the most beautiful almost luminous green. Soon, however, they will begin to show their bright yellow blooms producing color for most of the summer.

I realize that the emptiness or fullness of the world around me- the space into which I stare- is based more on my perspective and my openness to it. One can look at a forest and see green and never notice, as my friend Carol once reminded me, that there are an infinite number of colors we call green. Or I can see "board feet" as I remember reading almost 40 years ago in a remarkable book titled On the Loose.

As the disciple stared into space that Ascension Day their perspective was narrow. All they knew was Jesus as they saw him at that moment. God had more in store for them but they couldn't have seen it if they wanted to at that point since it was all new. What they were seeing had never been seen before in the history of the world. They can be forgiven for their narrowness. God had a great happening planned for them on Pentecost and they needed to wait and broaden their vision.

The day I am sitting in right now is just as unique as that of the disciples. While not on the great cosmic scope of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and ascension, this day is one that has never happened before- and will never happen again. What I have just experienced is new and different and in its own small way quite extraordinary- even in its commonness. Somewhere in the midst of these daily events- these times of staring into "nothingness" we may see or hear or even meet God giving us a new understanding of who we are and what is being asked of us in this unique time and place.