Ordinary Time. . . Not anymore!
By Bishop Woodie W. White
In some Christian traditions, this season in the liturgical year is called Ordinary Time. This is the period between the day of Epiphany, Jan. 6, and the Sunday of the Transfiguration, which is the Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday.
It is called Ordinary Time, because there are no major events in the life of Christ observed during this period. Thus, Christians and the Church are expected to carry on the ordinary tasks of discipleship during these days and months. Then as the Christian community enters Lent, there are prescribed directions that lead to the observance of Easter.
Ordinary Time is an interesting phrase. I suppose, for many, all time is ordinary in a sense. However, I am discovering how special and extraordinary time is. That is, time always has a special character intrinsic to it.
Understandably, we treat time in a routine manner, and consider each day as ordinary. One dictionary definition of ordinary states that it is "of a kind to be expected in the normal order of events; routine, usual." We all can identify with this understanding of ordinary as routine, expected.
For example, I am writing these words on a Sunday afternoon. There is a manner in which my Sunday is routine, ordinary. I begin it at an early hour, devote time for prayer and reflection, listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and while doing so, email a dear friend long retired. I wish him a blessed Lord's Day.
Then church attendance, followed by a Sunday afternoon dinner with my daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. I watch a football game or two, read the Sunday paper and try to get some time with a book. A few telephone calls are interspersed throughout the day.
That is Sunday in my rhythm of life. Ordinary. Routine. Expected. Usual.
But in a deeper and more profound sense, I am discovering that time is never ordinary. While I might expect or anticipate Sunday or any day as merely ordinary, it isn’t really.
Each day is always extraordinary! Never lived. Never experienced. And while expected, it is not guaranteed. So it is special. Perhaps it has ordinariness to it, but it is indeed special.
As one approaches each day not as ordinary, but extraordinary, it may take on a different meaning. One might handle it with greater care; embrace the day, tasks, even relationships more cognizant of their special significance.
Time with spouse, colleagues, family take on a greater measure of significance. Even time with a book, or listening to music, or in precious solitude. No longer taken for granted; no longer ordinary but treated with greater tenderness, respect and gratitude.
One of my most cherished hymns is no longer in our hymnal, so I must sing it alone; and I sing it often. The words are wedded to a gentle tune.
"My times are in Thy hand; My God I wish them there;
My life, my friends, my soul I leave Entirely to Thy care.
My times are in Thy hand; Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright, As best may seem to Thee.
My times are in Thy hand; I’ll always trust in Thee;
And after death, at Thy right hand, I shall forever be."
Ordinary time. Not anymore!
Copyright 2006 United Methodist Reporter. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Retired United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White currently serves as bishop-in-resident at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Ga.