St. Francis' Episcopal Church
Serving Eureka, Wildwood, and Surrounding Communities
June 2005 Newsletter Article
In the National Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, stands a bronzed statue remembering the men of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first black infantry unit in the Union Army, and their 25-year old commanding officer, Robert Gould Shaw. Their story was told in the movie, Glory. In that movie there is a scene where the men had finally been issued weapons and began to practice shooting. One young man, who clearly knew his way around a rifle, volunteered to be part of the demonstration. Taking time with his first shot, he hit the target squarely. When he went to reload, however, Colonel Shaw began to yell in his ear “faster, do it faster.” The young man became flustered and he fumbled; Shaw yelled louder. The second shot went far wide. The point was that there’s a world of difference between shooting at a target in a balmy meadow and firing in battle. That’s how my spiritual life’s been feeling lately.
A year ago, the struggle in my spiritual life was about “going deeper.” I took extra time in the morning; I began to be serious about practicing meditation; I was seeking that sacred space within myself in which to encounter God. These days it’s all I can do to read Morning Prayer each day. What’s the difference? Well, now I do what so many other caregivers do at 5 or 5:30 p.m. When I get home at the end of the day, I start my second shift. My daughter and grandson are now living with me, and I take care of Rye in the evening while his Mom works. This is a joy to me, but I’d been out of the “working mother” mode for 9 years. And keeping up with an active 4-year old boy can sometimes stretch the limits of my patience and energy. I’d begun to feel as though I’d slipped backwards in my spiritual life. Then I remembered that scene from Glory.
In a way, seeking to be closer to God is a bit like shooting at a target. It may seem like a moving target, but really we are the ones with the limited concentration, shaky hands, and reticence to practice, not to mention the “bombs” going off all around us. God is always right there waiting for us. But the reality of our world is that there are many, many distractions from our spiritual life. To call them distractions isn’t to minimize them, though. We’re involved in putting bread on the table, studying, caring for children or parents, watching our physical and financial health, showing concern for our neighborhoods, our country, and our world. All of these are good things, and simply part of being human in 21st century America. Yet God is still there waiting.
It is an equally valid calling to seek God in the world as to seek God away from the world. There are still men and women who devote their lives to prayer as a vocation outside the hustle and bustle of modern culture. Their task is not easier, just more concentrated. They need to be honored and supported. Our task is to seek God amidst the commotion of our everyday lives.
Before Rye moved to where I live, I missed him very much. I took every opportunity I could to see him, even if it was only for a couple of days. I wanted to be sure that I knew him and he knew me. It’s kind of the same way with God. Even if we can only spend a few minutes here or there, with extended visits every once in awhile, the relationship is nurtured. With practice we can learn to hit the “target”—that quiet sacred space within us where God can be found.