The Gift of Emptiness

Do you perceive the glass as half full or half empty?

The way you answer this question allegedly reveals whether you are an optimist or a pessimist. Sure, it does get at your perspective—do you focus on what you have or what you don’t? The reality of human life is that we need to focus on each in turn. We need to deal with both what is present and what is missing. 

Lent brings that same attention to our spirituality. It asks us to consider what is missing in our relationship with the Divine and what about our life is getting in the way. 

This week, as we turn to The Gift of Emptiness, I’m interrogating the automatic negative often put onto the word empty. If you perceive the glass to be half empty, doesn’t that mean that there is space for more? Emptiness can be an opportunity for something new. For growth. Emptiness can also be a chance to stop. To let go of the push for busy-ness and noise. To resist the urge to “fix what’s wrong” and recognize what is right. To sit in the still and the quiet and notice the Spirit moving and God speaking. 

The Lenten season is almost half over. The season has a little more than half to go. At this near-middle, I invite you to recognize what you have gained and acknowledge that you have more to go. That balance is the essence of our journey. It is the essence of this life.

Blessings,
Pastor Tijuana