dis/connected

I was at a busy retail store this week when the checkout line halted; apparently the internet had gone down. This meant that no debit or credit orders could be processed. 

The staff were doing the best they could, as each machine needed to be restarted individually. Overall it was a minor inconvenience, as the situation was able to be remedied in a few minutes. 

It was interesting to see the reactions of people, though, to the temporary disconnect. This temporary setback was only a few short minutes, and some folks were frustrated, a few were exasperated or angry, some looked for other solutions (putting items on hold or finding cash).

The majority of people recognised that this was just an unfortunate pause in their day, and accepted the staffs apologies for the inconvenience of this momentary blip. 

The experience highlighted our societal dependence on that electronic connection. It's something we often take for granted... But we powerfully notice when it's not there. 

Our spiritual connection with God can be like this, too. We expect it to be there, we rely on it to be constant and strong, yet we don't always give as much thought to it as we should... Until it falters or temporarily goes down. 

And our reactions, when we feel that disconnect, can vary as much as the shoppers at that store, with fluctuating levels of indignance and frustration and patience. 

Unlike the internet, however, our connection with God is within our control. It is our privilege and responsibility to maintain that connection; we decide the level of connection we wish. 

Though our spiritual connection benefits  from our attention at all times, this season of Lent invites us to be intentional about strengthening that bond. Through prayer and meditation, acts of self-sacrifice and acts of service, worship and study, Lent is a time when we can re-start our own systems to ensure they are able to withstand the busyness of life.

So as we transition today into Holy Week, perhaps we can consider our own spiritual connections (and disconnections). How do we react when we feel disconnected from God? How about when we feel most connected? How often do we consider these experiences? 

And most importantly; if our reflections on our connection doesn't match up with what our aspirations are, what actions can we take to bring those places closer together?

We are always in some ways connected and disconnected from God; and God always invites us to strengthen the connection. I pray this Holy Week (and beyond!) we can all appreciate and protect the connections that matter.