Paying Attention

This is my latest contribution to the Pastor's Column which appears in our local Helena newspaper (the Independent Record).
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It's Spring and Easter is now only two weeks away. For those of us who claim Christianity as our faith tradition Easter is one of the key celebrations of the year. The central message of the day is that in God life always triumphs over death. Theologians and preachers have been unpacking the powerful truths to be found in the Easter message for centuries, with no indication that the exploring will be complete anytime in the foreseeable future. There will always be more to thoughtfully and faithfully ponder. 

Today I find myself reflecting on the formula which is used to determine the day when we celebrate Easter. You may have noticed that it doesn't happen at the same time every year. In fact, it can vary from year to year by almost a month. Last year it occurred on March 27th. This year it will occur on April 16th. The reason for this seemingly odd behavior has to do with the aforementioned formula. Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. 

I confess that there have been times when I just scratch my head in bewilderment. “Who thought that was a good plan for scheduling a major holiday?” But this year I am rather enjoying this quirky bit of ecclesiastical tradition. I find in it a playful reminder that being a person of faith requires something more than simply a predictable business-as-usual approach to life. It means recognizing that things don't always fit neatly into tidy little boxes. And it means that I need to pay attention to the world around me. Figuring out when to celebrate Easter requires that we notice what's happening with the sun, the moon, the earth, and our own humanly created system for organizing time (the days of the week). All of that so we can come together and celebrate the amazing gift of new life. 

To be sure, it is possible to go through life without paying attention. It is certainly not my intention to imply that your faith is somehow suspect unless you knew about this obscure formula for determining when to order your Easter lilies. Indeed, I'm not even speaking exclusively to Christians. This business about scheduling Easter is only an illustration. What I'm trying to say can have value whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Spiritual but not Religious, Atheist, or None of the Above. 

My point is simply to offer up an invitation to begin experiencing the richness of a life in which you step beyond the limited perspective of predictable and unexamined routines. Start noticing and pondering and enjoying the extraordinary gift of living in this amazing world. Pay attention to the sun and the moon and the stars. Celebrate the wonder and delight just waiting to be discovered in the world around us. Become aware of the rhythm of the days and the seasons. Be mindful of your own breath and the beating of your heart. Delight in the presence of those people with whom you share life on this planet. 

The more we pay attention to what's happening within us and around us, the more we will have the opportunity to notice and experience the sacred gift of life which we have been given. Why not make today the day you expand the horizons of your life? Spring is here. It's time to wake up!