“Never Too Old To Be Surprised By Joy”

I’m learning new things about aging everyday. I thought I knew a lot, but I get surprised everyday.  Today’s reading about Anna adds more. “As for me, I am old and gray. I have lived with you from my youth to the present day.” (1Samuel 12:2) Anna had grown old in faith and hope, but when she saw the Child of God’s promise brought to the Temple, she sang in her heart a new song of praise and thanksgiving. One is never too old to be surprised by joy. (Judith 16:1,13-15) What a great line. It’s easy to get set in my ways, to think I know what the days hold, and to not be open to the surprises of the Lord… surprises of joy.

Th line from Hebrews 6:11-12  puts more flesh on this. “We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.” I can become sluggish if I’m not careful. I have found myself becoming sluggish. It’s a real danger. The solution is to demonstrate eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end. How does all this fit together? Hmmmmmm.

Well, we need the grace of God to wash over us. Like everything else in our spiritual  life, we need God. His grace wakes us up. He does it in his perfect way…sometimes trials, sometimes a word from a friend, sometimes the beauty of the season, a word of scripture. In essence he wakes us up enough that we can begin to make some good choices. Lately I experience “being surprised by joy… singing a new song of praise and thanksgiving”. I’m starting to demonstrate an eagerness for the fulfillment of hope.” It’s the grace of God reaching out to me, impelling me, moving me. 

How did this happen? I’m not fully sure. I do know our pilgrimage to the Eucharistic Shrines in Italy, as difficult as it was physically, was an important part. It began to wake me up from a sluggishness I couldn’t seem to get myself out of…. and didn’t even know I was in. I find myself recalling many things from that trip. And then my medical problems and  days in the hospital was a real wakeup call. (ref. previous BLOG for details). Despite the challenges of that saga, it was a great time spiritually. I came alive. Since that time, I continue to be “surprised by joy” and have an eagerness for the fulfillment of hope”. This is in the midst of a lot of sickness; Judy and I continue to trade the flu back and forth. 

I realize how much I love the Lord. I’m realizing again how great he is, his kindness and mercy. He has been so good to me. We are so blessed with family and friends and community life. So I urge all of us, if we find ourselves in a bit of “sluggishness”, to ask the Lord for the grace to “demonstrate eagerness for the fulfillment of hope”. Because he loves us so, he will help us…. and we will be surprised by joy. And that is wonderful news.