Be in the Light and Be the Light

Cleveland has experienced a heat wave over the past few days. Right in time for the beginning of summer and the day with the longest amount of daylight in the year, the extreme temperatures have caused power outages and the resulting anxiety about how the blackout will last - should we try to go somewhere with power (and air conditioning), what should we do about the food in our refrigerator, how much charge does my cellphone have, should we gather candles and flashlights.

Thankfully, given the longer days and shorter nights during this time of year, that last worry about gathering handheld and small scale lights decreases. The sun won't set tonight until after 9:00 p.m. in Northeast Ohio, meaning that it will stay light until almost 10:00 p.m.

Growing up as a child and through my teenage years, I loved the longer periods of light and the many other ways in which light is associated with summer. 

Lightning bugs/fire flies.

Sparklers and fireworks. 

Bonfires/grills and smores. 

In the summer, especially in Northeast Ohio where it can otherwise be pretty cloudy, I just want to be in the light. 

But, there are consequences. 

Too much sun damages our skin.  

The summer sun brings with it intense heat.

At times, the light can be blinding, especially while driving.

Thanks to sunscreen, shelter, moisture wicking clothing, air conditioning, fans, and sunglasses we can enjoy the good parts of the sun while mitigating its negative effects. 

While today I will embrace the length of daylight and try in vain to keep the extra time with the sun throughout the year, I'm reminded of another kind of light that never fades or harms: the light of Christ. 

His light doesn't go out. It never burns or even gets too hot. 

It illuminates the true, good, and beautiful. It provides comfort, healing, relief, clarity.

Obviously, we can soak up the light of Christ through the Celebration of the Eucharist. 

Adoration offers another opportunity to bask in His glorious light. 

Similarly, the other Sacraments, especially penance, provide us with His light. Christ's light shines through the reading of Sacred Scripture. We experience His light when we look outside of ourselves and perform service to others. Christ's light glows when two or more are gathered in solidarity with Him and each other. The light of Christ chases away the darkness of ignorance through study in all forms, but especially about our faith.

And, the more time that we spend in Christ's light, the more that we, in turn, start to shine. 

Similar to something that glows in the dark only after exposure to light, we become a light for others only after our encounters and relationship with Jesus. 

This summer and always, be in the Light and be the light. 

Let it shine!  

Father Time

I've written about the concept of time multiple, err, times. 

My current reflection on it stems from a recent experience I had with one of my children. Despite the many demands on my time, I intentionally made the choice to "waste" time by engaging in imaginative play. What started off as a chance to use a seldom chosen toy turned into a multi-hour and multi-prop session. 

This recent experience replicated similar ones throughout my time as a father "wasting" time with my kids: coloring, playing, dancing, singing, building, cooking, imagining, snuggling, laughing. 

The thing is, though, these moments are anything but wasted. 

Think about the various ways that we describe how we use time: 

• Waste time. 
• Make time.
• Take time.
• Spend time. 
• Invest time. 

Time is fixed, finite, limited. So, it makes sense that we consider it much like a commodity or resource such as money or food or oil or wood. 

And it is possible to do all of the above. I've definitely wasted too many hours, days, weeks, months and years throughout my life. 

When it comes to the time that goes toward our relationships, though, perhaps we need another way to capture our intentions. 

How about "cherish"?

Instead of saying that I was wasting time with my kids, might it be better thematized by saying I was cherishing time with my kids? 

Now, I admit that I don't always feel like I'm cherishing this time. Like Bandit, the father in the show Bluey, I often lament when my kids suggest certain activities - like ones that require me to move a lot when I'm really tired.

But, despite any of my hesitations, I have never regretted cherishing time with them. 

I pray that, despite my human limitations and failings, that they know of my deep and abiding love for them. In addition to saying it, I hope to tell my kids that I love them through my actions. 

Ever since becoming a father, I have had many moments of prayer when I have reflected on the Father's love for me in relation to my love for my children. 

Whether time spent in adoration, at weekday mass, in the confessional, in quiet prayer when I first wake up, or pausing to ask Him to bless my food before eating, I know that our Father cherishes time with me. His perfect love delights in my efforts to connect with Him. Much like how I appreciate when my kids just want to be close to me, I know that God rejoices in my efforts to be in His presence.  

As the old hymn sings, "How deep the Father's love for us! How vast beyond all measure!" 

Time, while it can be wasted or taken or spent, should be cherished. Instead of an exchanged commodity, we should view time as a gift. 

In accepting it, I can then cherish it, and offer it back to God and my kids and my wife and my family and my friends and my co-workers and everyone as a gift. 

Accept. Cherish. Offer. 

Your time. 

Your self. 

Re-creation

For educators, the next few days and weeks will mark the completion of graduation events, final exams, grading, teacher meetings, end-of-the-year picnics and the welcomed shift to the behind-the-scenes vision-casting, strategy-forging, program-building, policy-revising, and breath-catching time of summer.

Make the most of it. I don't offer this in a harsh way, but rather with encouragement and compassion. Bl. Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, recommended those within his order follow this advice during periods of downtime:

How many things we have to learn! We have only to recall the duties of the priest or the teacher to understand how frightful would be our responsibility to religion, parents, and ourselves were we to neglect to acquire or preserve the knowledge proper to our vocation. Let us make good use of all our leisure time, so as to increase the fund of information that will make us more useful to the congregation and build up the reputation of its members. Above all, let us not only study, but let us observe the liturgy and ceremonies of the Church, the rubrics, the sacred chant, and let us be faithful to our rules and constitutions.

As you take time to replenish, restore, and rejuvenate, stay anchored in prayer and continue to enhance your knowledge and skills in Catholic school education and leadership.

The God of the universe built the seasons into the rhythm of creation to allow for this regeneration each year. This same God inspired His Church to mimic this wisdom and do the same with the liturgical calendar to foster new growth. Similarly, one of His commandments invites us to set aside time each week for worship, community, and rest. 

The same is true for how we have been created as humans: taking periodic breaks can provide more productivity, moving can reset our ability to concentrate, and God hard-wired us to need sleep each day.

While there is much about education that we can and should change, having periods of recreation can garner greater gains during our times of intense focus. 

The key in any of these seasons, but especially in those of recreation, is to be intentional about what, how, and why we do it. 

Plans guard against binge watching and mindless scrolling. Plans encourage us to look back at periods of break with satisfaction - I finally read that book, I finally took that trip, I finally made that phone call, I finally cleaned that room, I finally tried that recipe, I finally got back into exercising, I finally took up that new hobby, I finally spent quality time with friends/family. Plans keep us from overindulging in these needed moments of pleasure, leisure, and entertainment. 

While this nudge toward intentionality isn't meant to be harsh, it also isn't meant to script out and control every moment of our lives. Too much rigidity, especially in seasons of recreation, can illicit a negative effect. 

Spontaneity, whimsicality, improvisation, and flexibility play key roles in allowing the Holy Spirit to mold, fill, and use us in ways beyond our limited imaginings. 

So, create a plan for this upcoming season of summer. And, allow God to re-create both it and you in the process. 

He's making all things new.

Including you.