There is a classic episode of the Twilight Zone in which the main character dies and passes on to the afterlife. He is initially overjoyed with the instantaneousness by which his wishes come true: money, women, luxuries, fame, etc. As the episode unfolds, however, he becomes increasingly frustrated with his life which devolves into an endless series of impulses that leave no room for mystery. In the final scene, as he is lamenting the boredom and predictability of heaven, a gentleman dressed in white turns to him and says, “Who gave you the idea that you were in heaven? This is the other place!” In an age of phone screens and one-click-shopping, it can feel impossible to hold space between our impulses and our actions. The good news is that grace abounds and that, starting today, we can experiment with self-control, patience and trust. We can envision a version of life where we are not ruled by our desires. We can let the Word breathe and speak and live in the tender places that, up until now, we have been too afraid to share with any reality beyond ourselves. Ave Crux, Spes Unica.
January 11, 2025
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