Soul Time
Photo by Susan Izard
Dear Soul Friends,
It’s a wet gray February morning in New England. A blanket of fog is floating over the snow-covered earth inviting me to watch the hovering mist weave between the dark tree trunks of tall maple trees and the deep green branches of shorter evergreens. Birds are singing, accompanied by a woodpecker who adds a rhythmic rat-tat-tat to the delightful tweeting. It’s been too cold for birdsong. I haven’t heard it in weeks. I love listening to their announcement that early spring is underway. The birds know mother earth is beginning to awaken from her winter slumber. The birds know new life is about to unfold. The birds know that under the frozen white landscape all kinds of plants are preparing to spring forth. It is the perfect weather for the beginning of Lent.
Lent is the Christian season for reflection and preparation. Like the earth, it is a time to pay attention to the inner wisdom and guidance that our souls yearn to share with us and watch how the fruits of the wisdom begin to blossom in our lives. In the early church, individuals seeking membership spent the six weeks of Lent studying, praying, fasting and preparing for the sacrament of baptism at the Easter Vigil. That type of spiritual attentiveness is still encouraged today. It’s a time for listening to our soul yearnings and honoring them.
Many years ago, during Lent, I attended a Wisdom Day at the Spiritual Life Center. It was a day of instruction and contemplation. I don’t remember who the speaker was but I remember being grateful to have some time away from my busy life of juggling the responsibilities of a young family and work. It felt good to have a day for quiet reflection.
During the lunch break we were encouraged to take a quiet walk around the monastery before gathering for the afternoon session. It was a windy, brisk, bright day and I was delighted to be outside for a few minutes. The crisp air was filled with the smell of spring softening the earth. A few crocuses poking through melting snow were twinkling in the sunlight and seemed to be smiling at me and saying, “Be delighted. We are.”
As I made my way around the path, I noticed one of my friends, an older woman, was just ahead of me. She was walking slowly with her hands linked behind her back. In order not to overtake her, I slowed down. At first it wasn’t easy. I like to walk quickly and feel energy move through my body. Slowing down did not feel right. But I decided to try. I began to focus on each step and brought my attention to the gentle movement of my hips, knees and feet. At some point, I remember wondering if I could walk calmly through my days. Was calm a soul quality? Was calm a way of practicing soul time?
As I sat down to write this letter, I remembered this story. I decided to pay attention to being calm during this Lenten season. I’ve noticed it has been easy to fret and be anxious this winter. Paying attention to being calm seemed like the perfect Lenten practice. About thirty minutes later, I was standing in line at the drug store and feeling anxious. The line was taking forever! I had places to go and things to do. Then I started to laugh. I hadn’t even made it an hour without being restless. Taking a breath, I brought my attention back to my desire to practice being calm and I waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually, the line was finished and I moved on with my day.
That is the cycle of soul time. It’s not about being perfect and always being attentive. It’s about noticing when we’ve shifted away from the desire of our hearts and bringing our attention back to inner attentiveness. Knowing this pattern is an incredible gift.
As you journey through this Lenten season, may you be blessed by the gift of insight and attentiveness. May you be blessed with the gift of listening to your soul yearnings. May you be blessed with the gift of inner knowing.
Deep peace to you,
Susan
