Odd, isn’t it? When you’re 6 or 8 it feels like liberation to no longer have a Designated Nap Time (DNT) as part of the daily routine. When you’re 68, you come to see the DNT as one of life’s most profound little blessings.
I was moved to meditate on this phenomenon midway through a recent sleepover at our place involving two energetic grandsons. At the appointed time post-lunch, I headed upstairs for my DNT… trusting that the young’uns could keep themselves occupied for 20-30 minutes or so.
Alas.
Just as my doze began to descend, I heard a faint rustling ‘neath the bedroom door. The sound of a hand-written message arriving, a Special Delivery as it were.
‘We want your attenchen’ the precious note declared. And really, does it make a whit of difference what the rest of their memo said?
Their words got my attention – that phonetically-spelled word in particular. It was not just a word, but a sign post: An unmistakable indicator that my Grands are growing up, learning to write, and while still inclined today to sleepover…all-too-soon this inclination of theirs likely will be borne away by the River of Time.
Funny thing, Time. Reflecting on this recent “message moment,” it occurred to me that I cannot imagine a Time when the Grands (all three of them) were not a part of me. Their presence, their being – now so deeply embedded in my heart – has managed somehow to step out of Time and enter a liminal space. A divine and eternal space.
Which is to say, God is there in my grandchildren. God is there, rousing me from slumber on a sleepy Saturday afternoon – even as God roused Abram at the time of the covenant; and the somnolent apostolic trio at the scene of Jesus’ transfiguration.
Impertinence on my part?
Heresy?
Well, as the spiritual writer Joyce Rupp has noted, God “is not an object, but a reachable, experienced presence…Vast and mysterious. Up close and personal. Both of these dimensions manifest in my perception of ‘God.’”
And so I am drawn to consider the possibility that this is part of God’s invitation to me this Lent – to contemplate a God who loves, just like a Grandson loves his Gramps. A God who seeks my attenchen, and invites me (yes, even little ol’ me) to enter into God’s glory.
Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy & Merciful One.
IHS
With Us Still 
Thanks for sharing, John. Having grandkids, that touched my heart. They do show you God’s presence in many ways. Thanks again.
Yes indeed…a good reminder for us always to be paying attenchen 😇
Beautiful! Now, what is a carpet mower… and do the symbols after “attenchen” mean “check it out, you are the star that makes me smile”? Glad to see that someone finally figured out the right way to spell attenchen. Thanks,
Thanks, Mark. As I understand it, the symbols are the contribution that Younger Brother made to the message. (He’s not yet a writer…) As for “carpet mower”, one must plumb the mischievous depths of an 8-year-old’s mind to fully understand. But I will be happy to provide an explanation the next time we see each other! 😇