April 3, 2009
The Second Half
‘Instead of . . .’
BY DEACON JIM AND ANN CAVERA
It all seemed so simple after we left the Knights of Columbus fish fry last Friday night. Jim planned to lead Stations of the Cross at church and then we would spend a quiet evening at home. Just as we headed for church Jim mentioned he didn’t have his house key. He wasn’t worried. He knew I had mine because I had my purse. This time, a quick search of my purse proved otherwise. We had locked ourselves out of the house and the closest spare key was at our son’s house an hour away.
Blame it on spring. Flowers are blooming. Store flyers are full of ads for seeds and yard equipment. For the first time in months both of us had left home without wearing our coats. Our house keys were safe at home in our coat pockets. Instead of a quiet night in our living room, we spent the next couple of hours driving through the countryside to get a spare house key.
This weekend we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. After such a reception, the apostles may well have expected Christ to sweep away injustice and usher in the reign of God. Instead, within a few days the cross would bring what seemed to be a cruel reversal of their expectations. Instead of staying awake with Christ as he prayed in the garden, Peter, James and John fell asleep. Officials released Barabbas instead of Jesus. Instead of standing by Christ in his time of trial, Peter denied knowing him. Finally, Jesus died on the cross in our place so that we might have life. God’s plan met none of the apostles’ expectations.
It’s a good thing to prepare for the future we have in mind. Often, though, in the second half of life, it is “instead of” that determines the shape of our days. Instead of health and vigor, unexpected illness drains energy. Instead of vacations, trips to a doctor’s office fill hours. The plans many made for financial security in later years have been washed away in the tides of an unstable economy. Instead of retirement, part-time work must be found. Instead of being self-sufficient, adult children may still need support. For many, the loss of a spouse can turn lives into an unwelcome “instead of.”
Unexpected turns come into our lives on a regular basis and how we react to the changes in our plans can say much about who we are. Do we have enough faith to know that even the small twists in life can hold unseen gifts? The drive through the countryside at night, crisp air, stars overhead, put us in a peaceful frame of mind. Instead of TV we watched the fields unfold around us. We found the solitude we longed for in the trip we couldn’t foresee.
We can face the unexpected with bitterness or with grace. We can go down the road kicking and screaming or we can embrace each turn of events. The message of the cross is that God always uses “instead ofs” to transform our lives into resurrection.
Deacon Jim and Ann Cavera are former residents of Evansville; their award-winning column is a regular feature of the Message. Contact them at www.catholicseniorspirit.com.