Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Ordinary time

The Christian calendar has six seasons.  The calendar begins with Advent and then moves to the seasons of Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.  After Pentecost there is a long period of time that is simply known as Ordinary Time.

I have always loved that name... Ordinary Time.  To me it speaks to the reality that we cannot live in a constant state of heightened awareness, celebration, or even worship.  We can't always be either feasting or fasting.  Most of our lives exist somewhere in the middle.

In these final days of Ordinary Time I am trying to be thankful for just that.  The dailiness of it all.  I am trying to take comfort in routine and even the mundane.  Ordinary Time is what allows us to not only recharge for the busier seasons of the church year, but also to anticipate them.  As we move closer toward Advent we can start to taste and feel all that comes with that season of quiet expectation.  But it's not here yet...

Today is still Ordinary.  Tomorrow will be too.  I choose to be thankful for that.

5 comments:

InTheFastLane said...

I never knew that...Ordinary time sounds wonderful, I will see if I can fit it in to my schedule :)

Grad3 said...

Without the Ordinary Time we wouldn't enjoy the season so much-- thank you for sharing this refreshing perspective! ~Hugs~

shay said...

I didn't know either. I love Ordinary Time. It's where we live our lives, really:)

Mrs. Spit said...

I've always loved ordinary time. And Lent.

Ally said...

I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of Ordinary Time, it being so, well, ordinary. But I guess you're right; it can't be Lent all year.