Divine Timing
We are
thankful
that the universe
is a
vast
possibility
of
good
showing up
when
least
expected. (by Larry Morris)
Today is May Day, a holiday that has ancient roots in Europe, but is still known in America. This tradition celebrates the seasons as winter continues to fade into spring, and spring opens into summer. May Day is the midpoint between spring and summer. While we recognize the natural cycles of the seasons, life and its seasons have never been precisely predictable; there is a flow of one season into the other. Life is movement and surprise as one event flows and transforms into another.
Paradoxically, we have the term 'Mayday', communicated 3 times, as a call for help in life threatening emergencies. That cry of "Mayday" is understood internationally, and those who can respond, do. The code-word was coined from the French term for 'help-me' and is unrelated to the playful festival of May Day. Yet, the homophone has me reflecting on the spiritual life as a continual flow of Good, that we simply fail to grasp. Perhaps our spiritual code-phrase is "the unexpected"; the solutions we seek are "the unexpected". During the years of Pandemic, the seasons have come and gone; we had our times of relative normalcy, jolting changes, and life threatening emergencies. We've had times of great loss, but also tremendous discovery. Now that life is opening, why not reflect on an expectation of Good coming in unexpected ways? Why not open to a responsive Universe?
Whether we frame it as 'openness', faith, positive thinking, newness of life, or human capacity for ingenuity and adventure--or serendipity, synchronicity, or simply surprise--it is our space for the unexpected that gives a living quality to the spiritual life. In any given situation, we can stretch our expectations by considering a list of positive possibilities, then having primed the pump, jump into the void of unknown potential, which is God. While the practice of affirmation and visualizations has its psychological impact (lifting our mood and confidence), a rigid repetition of our insistence that life mold to our specific desire, can be exhausting. Such mental demand carries us further and further away from a deeper spiritual trust and a greater Intelligence. Let this May Day impart a positive trust of God's Good, bringing you unexpected insight, solutions, where-with-all, connection, and joy. (Susan Nettleton)
For more ideas on opening to unexpected Good, follow the links:
https://hillsidesource.com/.../3/16/unfamiliarize-yourself
https://hillsidesource.com/affirmation-prayer-for-freedom...