Lack

Under normal circumstances I’d expect to have more time to blog at weekends, but something makes me think these are not normal times (and I don’t just mean in terms of the “Interesting Times” being visitied upon us by world leaders who subscribe to the “might makes right” school of international relations, and have the power to throw around – something which seems the case irrespective of traditional rivalries of the post 80-odd years and a return to the power politics of empire and domination. But I digress, maybe.) I was thinking rather more in terms of domestic life. Yesterday saw travels to Cambridge, today a round trip even further, to Leeds and back, returning the younger offsprog to university after a few days with us rather under the weather. By the time the trip included lunch there and a coffee stop on the return the Sun had set, and motivation needed to be hunted. A lack of time. A lack of energy.

It also marks a rare Sunday without being at church, and maybe thus a lack of devotion (or visible lack of the same – and it must be admitted that praying in the car while driving isn’t quite a substitute for fellowship. However I know of no regular Evensong in town, which is not my preferred mode of worship, and by the time I got back I’d have been pushed for time anyway.) Lack does seem appropriate.

Last weekend, lack of desire. This weekend, lack of time. Not a lack of physical resource, nor food. Not lack of warmth, nor shelter. Not a lack of love, nor relationship. A life maybe a little fuller than might be appreciated, or if sustained, less good for long-term health. Nevertheless, a life supplied, and even if not clearly demonstrated today, not lacking an awareness and presence of the the divine, numinous and eternal.

So, to turn it round, in characteristic question: where are you, dear reader, lacking, and where blest? Not a bad couplet of questions for a Lenten reflection.