Later Than I Thought

Yesterday afternoon I decided on chicken kiev for supper. I figured out when I’d put it in the oven and when to start the sides. I had my phone timer on for all the parts. And we sat down to eat at 5:30. We chatted about our day as we ate. Then my husband asked what I was planning for that evening. And I reminded him that I had faith formation class but then it hit me, it was a special night and instead of 7:15, the usual time, I was supposed to be there at 6. And he said, “Well, it’s 6.” And I was off.

I grabbed my purse and literally ran to the car. I drove carefully but there was no sightseeing on the way. My phone rang when I was two blocks away. It was the faith formation director. I answered and told her I was a block away. As I pulled up, she was on the sidewalk waiting, bless her patience. She sent me directly to the church where the students were already assembled. It was confessions night. So, I slipped into the back pew, embarrassed but present. The students all turned around and acknowledged me with head nods.

Other than that first hiccup, the evening went well and as planned. As I took the initial quiet time in church while the students went to confession before their upcoming Confirmation to pull myself together and to reflect on what had happened.  I realized that old habits are hard to break. Faith formation was always at 7:15. I knew this week was different but knowing it and actually adjusting for it are two different things. As I pondered that for a bit longer and realized that the evening’s mishap was actually indicative of other times in my life when on the one hand I’d tell myself I needed to address something but on the other hand I acted as if I had all the time in the world to do that.

So, not surprisingly, the LORD and I had a chat just before bed. I acknowledged that I was not the best at immediately dealing with things and that Lent is the perfect time to address this, to set down the procrastination and pick up in its stead determination and openness to the LORD’s guidance. I found it ironic that my “timing” issue didn’t come up until the middle of the 5^th week of Lent. And then I felt the thump. Yep, I should have realized it earlier; it was later than I thought.

Bottom line in my discussion with the LORD last night was that now is the time to think about my future because it is the present in which I live and move and have my being in the LORD. The present is given me to live as I’m called and to become the one I am created to be. The present is when I choose and I need to choose rightly and right away. Why waste even one moment heading in the wrong direction.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.