A Lenten Experience: Fragility

Aloneness increasingly characterises our society as mental health issues impact us silently. Despite the invasive social media, isolation is reinforced. Love at first sight! Manipulating one night stands. Emptiness! ‘L’Éstranger’ enlightens: strangers roaming in a meaningless silence. 

Debussy’s observation: ‘music is the silence between the notes’ helps me appreciate my search for togetherness: some call it solidarity, because we are not born for ourselves only. Exploring the silence uniting us: a streaming fellowship. Sacred steps! 

Working through my emptiness: the empty tomb is the modus operandi addressing my choices. Magdalene enlightens bolted doors (John 20,11-18). Outstripping my fears, imposed confinements are surpassed: “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1,7). Gratefulness! 

It challenges me to become fragile for the sake of others. Weakness is not envisaged. Instead, a replacing willingness to follow: “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20,28). Dangers accompany! Being less does not empathise with a dressed up exclusiveness enjoying a privilege ‘clausium’ sanctified by illusions of poverty.

Yes, Joyce has a point; “it is as painful perhaps to be awakened from a vision as to be born”: the jarring transition from the realm of imagination to reality. Childlikeness. The kingdom integrates fragility because it identifies with children: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them” (Matthew 19,14).

Moving beyond myself, I realise that “the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ ” (1 Corinthians 12,12). Tenderness! “A new command I give you, love one another! As I have loved you, so you must love another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples” (John 13,34-35). Conscience! 

Restlessness and gloom sign our paths; vices are integrated, exhibiting an unwillingness to fall in love with God because I only love myself! Uneasiness: “Quia fecisti nos ad Te, et inquietum est cor notrum, donec requiesat in Te ”(Our heart is restless until it rests in You. Confessions, I,1.5). Fragility!


Martin


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