Timing is Everything

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!

Christmas blessings to all as we continue to celebrate the joy of the Christ Child's birth during this Christmas Octave.  This is often a time of basking in the warm glow of the present-moment with family and friends as the holiday continues, and taking inventory for the new year that is right around the corner.  Last evening I happened to watch the movie Joy with Jennifer Lawrence. I did not know anything about it, but enjoyed this account of how this woman seemingly trapped by familial circumstances, was able to reclaim her identity, and pursue her invention of a self-wringing mop that would eventually change her life along with the lives of women around the world.  

This was captivating in and of itself, but I was most intrigued by the line in the movie about some cicada species who hide underground for 17 years before being ready as nymphs to come out into the world, make music, and begin a new cycle of life.  

Their life cycle is described as follows: 

"Cicadas begin life as a rice-shaped egg, which the female deposits in a groove she makes in a tree limb, using her ovipositor. The groove provides shelter and exposes the tree fluids, which the young cicadas feed on. 

Once the egg hatches the cicada begins to feed on the tree fluids. At this point it looks like a termite or small white ant. Once the young cicada is ready, it crawls from the groove and falls to the ground where it will dig until it finds roots to feed on. Once roots are found the cicada will stay underground from 2 to 17 years depending on the species. Cicadas are active underground, tunneling and feeding.

After the long 2 to 17 years, cicadas emerge from the ground as nymphs. Nymphs climb the nearest available tree, and begin to shed their nymph exoskeleton. Free of their old skin, their wings will inflate with fluid and their adult skin will harden. Once their new wings and body are ready, they can begin their brief adult life.

Adult cicadas, also called imagoes, spend their time in trees looking for a mate. Males sing, females respond, mating begins, and the cycle of life begins again."

This was a metaphor for this young woman and her life thus far. She was searching to find that little girl in herself who sought to create and make a difference. Where had she gone? She had seemingly been crushed by her parent's divorce, a failed marriage of her own, financial concerns, and the burden of taking care of family members who had opted out of life in one way or another.  She was at a point of great tension as this appeared to be untenable. Something had to give, as we would say in modern parlance.  She recognized herself in the cicada - one who had hidden underground and was operating in the dark of hibernation under the earth. She felt as if her true self had all but died, with just a few wisps of sparks from her soul operating beneath the brittle earth of life.  

But alas, she was able to gather these sparks into a tiny flame that enabled her to climb out from beneath the layers of dirt that had buried her, and begin to push forward towards recouping her broken self and hidden dreams. 

As a Christian, we know that we do not accomplish such a resurrection moment on our own, but instead it is grace and our cooperation with it that enables healthy change to take root in our lives. It is listening to the whisper of the Holy Spirit who speaks to our souls, this innate voice within, that moves us towards change in His own perfect timing. Although seemingly sad and a waste of time, I would argue that Joy's time of crushing and lost hopes and dreams enabled her to become the the best version of herself. We know that for all those who love God, all things work together for the good.  Does that mean Our Lord wants us crushed and living unfulfilled lives? Absolutely not. But it does mean that He can use all circumstances, most especially our brokenness, for His Glory and plans for us. 

Sometimes this hidden period in life is necessary to catapult us to come out of our shells so to speak or to rise to the surface in order to accomplish what has been intended for us all along.  It is so often the timing with what is required in the present moment that determines various cycles that vascillate between the behind the scenes work that must be done before a more overt work is accomplished. Such concealed existence can result in the eradication of one's spirit on the one hand, or the strengthening of it to prepare to overcome obstacles so often associated with noteworthy successes that touch and change the lives of others. 

We are reminded in Scripture that there is a time and season for all things. Let us remember that even the behind the scenes times in our lives, and seemingly useless periods of inactivity, difficulties, etc. are not a waste as God uses all things for the good of those who love Him.