Emptiness in Lent
Saturday, 02 April 2011 19:23
A famous professor full of knowledge and strong opinions comes to a Zen master for instruction. The Zen master welcomes the guest and offers a small cup, then begins to pour tea. When the cup is full, the master continues to pour for several minutes and the tea spills out and runs over. The distinguished visitor is dumbfounded. The master calmly explains, “Like the cup you are already full of your own opinions. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”
I first read this story in one of Henri Nouwen‘s* books years ago. The picture of the tea pouring out onto the startled visitor, splashing on clothing and skin, cushions and mats has stayed with me. The story reminds me that emptying and letting go are crucial for Christians too. It is only human to hang on to the familiar, especially to those things that serve us well. The Holy Spirit seems to always be loosening our grip and getting us ready for something fresh and new. At times we can sense that and follow the Spirit with ease; other times it‘s more difficult. Lent is the time of the Church Year when we try to make room in our lives for hearing the Spirit with open hearts and minds. Of course it is important to do that year round but Lent is set aside as a special preparation time. At its core fasting from food or activity is about making emptiness, making space for God.
This Lent at St. Hildegard's we have a theme of "emptiness." On Ash Wednesday each of us made a small bowl from damp, pliable clay. The bowls have gradually dried and hardened. Every Sunday we begin the Eucharist with a silent walking meditation, each of us carrying our own small bowl as a gesture of emptiness, twice around the circle. When we look at the bowls set out on a table, we see a beautiful picture of our community—small vessels, each handmade and unique, brought together, waiting to be filled.
At the Offertory we sing a simple chant, "Through our emptiness flows the breath of God…." As we move to stand around the altar-table for Holy Communion, there is a sense of communal emptiness and expectation that deepens week by week. Singing and dancing a beautiful new chant with words by Angelus Silesius (1624-1677), "God is a pure No-thing, concealed in now and here. The less we reach for God, the more God will appear," reminds us to be open to God‘s timing and ways, rather than grasping.
Of course for most of us life continues to be busy and pressured with many demands. Yet at a soul level this deeper preparation is going on. Maybe a few of us are able to be more accepting of limits, to make time for a quiet walk to enjoy the springtime flowers and listen to the birds, to find the gift of a slower pace. For others though things may even speed up with school activities, gardening, SXSW or Spring Break trips. Emptiness comes as a gift in the midst of all we do. I love the image of the weed that is able to find the crack in the pavement and push up, bringing forth a beautiful bloom. It‘s not about how successful we are at keeping Lent but about the grace of God finding us wherever we are. May you know the blessing of a Holy Lent wherever you are!
Blessings, Judith
* an internationally known priest, teacher and author of books for the spiritual journey.
