Sound, Light, And Energy

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Mark 10:46-52

October 27, 2024

An adult Great Blue Heron can stand up to four and a half feet tall, and this one was pretty close to that. The dirty blue feathers reflected the sunlight as he stood next to the pond. The white swan-like neck curled into a taught, strike-ready pose. His unblinking black eyes on the top of his long, pointed beak scanned the pond, looking for breakfast.

I had walked along the pond and stream the day before, and, not surprisingly, had not seen any fish or even a frog. It was not surprising to me because it was not a natural stream or pond. And yet, here was this Heron patiently waiting. My initial reaction was to chuckle and think, “good luck, buddy.” But as I watched him scan the pond, even though it was covered with leaves, it occurred to me that this crafty hunter would not be standing here if he had not had success in the past. This beautiful bird could see things in that leavy pond that I was unable to find, as hard as I looked.

Bartimaeus, in today’s Gospel, was unable to see in the manner we are familiar with. But in his pleading to Jesus to heal him, he demonstrated that he actually wanted to see more than his hands, flowers, or his daily meal. By becoming a follower of Jesus, Bartimaeus showed he saw things many others could not see, even though Jesus was standing right before them.

I have been fortunate to have enjoyed good eyesight my entire life, even if I wear spectacles today. However, there was a time that I felt I was in darkness. It was a time that I felt a disconnect from God. As much as I prayed, I just didn’t feel that God was with me nor could hear me. As a person who has worked hard to understand my relationship with God, it was a disturbing time.

Now, I don’t take any pride in experiencing this “dark” time, because there have been many much more devout people than I who have experienced a “dark night of the soul.” John of The Cross coined the term, but many others have felt it. St. Teresa of Calcutta, Thérèse of Lisieux, Paul of the Cross, and many others have experienced feeling a lack of spiritual consolation.

Our world is a jumble of noise, madness, and uncertainty. Most of the time, all this noise blocks out the goodness and peace that actually exists beneath the cacophony. It is almost impossible to see the Northern Lights due to the light pollution that exists in cities. Although the birds chirp nearly constantly, it’s hard to hear them when the big trucks go roaring by on the roads nearby. Even though most people are good and kind, the clamor caused by the minority who prefer chaos and negativity, means that the news is full of pessimism and turmoil.

But even if it is hard, or impossible to see, hear, or feel the reality of goodness and light, I believe that it is there. I have been told that everything I see is not reality. Reality is much bigger and much better than what I see. I am learning that this is so true. After a dark night of the soul, the dawn filled my soul with light. And that light is helping me to expand my understanding of God’s love and the power of the work of the Creator.

Bartimaeus was able to see the possibilities of the love of Jesus, even when he did not have sight. The Heron could see the possibility of breakfast, even though the pond was covered with leaves. St. Teresa of Calcutta could see the possibility of the presence of God, even though she lived in darkness for nearly 50 years.

Father Adam Bucko, an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and author, has said, “[Prayer] is about receptivity, about deep listening, about wrestling with questions like what breaks your heart, what makes you truly alive, and allowing those questions, as well as the pain of the world, to shatter us. When we do that, in the midst of all of that, we discover that there’s something arising deep within. For me, that’s the Holy Spirit looking to essentially flow into our lives, take whatever is left of us, and reassemble it into something that can become our unique gift to the world. 1 

In order for me to be receptive to the voice of God in my life, I have to be sure that I make time in my day to listen to the voice of God. God does speak to me and to every person, but I need to take the time to stop and listen. If I am to be the best person I can be and be a light to the world, as I have been called to be, then I will look for all the possibilities that the Creator has placed before me. I will share these amazing miracles with everyone I encounter and help them to see all the possibilities that God’s love provides.

Every Day.

1.    from Adam Bucko with Mark Longhurst, Letting Heartbreak Be Your Guide, September 12, 2024, Center for Action and Contemplation, YouTube video, 28:11.

© 2024 by Timothy J. Doppel

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