Today’s find: Hard-boiled

Today’s find: Hard-boiled

I had a notion to make hard-boiled eggs this morning. I’m inclined to count it as something of a mini-milestone.

You see, “initiative” – even for something as pedestrian as boiling an egg – has been noticeably lacking in my recent daily routine. Instead, my days have been dominated by a COVID-induced inertia. Sure, I managed to get out of bed most days this past week. But just barely. And only for a few hours at a time, before a soul-sucking weariness set in.

Cooking hard-boiled eggs – well, that would have been a bridge too far, even as recently as 72-hours ago.

But even now, as I watch the water, the roiling water, in the pot, I find a reflection of my virus-afflicted spirit. I realize it’s been a rough few days for me, making the effort to connect with the Holy One. In fact, I’ve pretty much put my prayer life on hold – kind of expecting God to see me through this illness, but not really asking specifically for that blessing.

Is that faith, as identified by the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews?

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.

Or is more like proof of my broken, hard-boiled nature? Indeed, in my weakened state, have I not been channeling the hubris of the servant, who:

…says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and … who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will…

So as I emerge from my COVID-induced fog today, I find my heart filling with gratitude not just for the healing I failed so utterly to pray for in recent days, but also for the spirit of adoption – as a child of God – that I all too often take for granted.

What a gift we have, those who can count themselves among the members of the little flock…who’ve been given the blessings of discipleship! But we would also do well to remember that our call, ultimately, is to come out of our shell. This surely is our charge, one we hear from the lips of Jesus in today’s gospel:

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

 

Even in times of sickness, I can tend to be a tough egg to crack.

Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy & Merciful One.

IHS