Those of us who went through Catholic high schools almost certainly became familiar with Kairos. It the apt name for a retreat offered at many of these schools. Adapted from the Ignitian Spiritual Exercises, the retreat calls for young people to let go of their routines, their calendars, their watches, their schedules, their technology -- and instead be present to one another and to the presence of God, and see the significant impact that can make. For most participants, that context is rare and perhaps intimidating but cultivates vulnerability and trust to help young people build or rebuild stronger relationships and reengage their lives of faith anew.
For adults, especially during a pandemic with safer-at-home orders and cabin fever, and also during a time of major social unrest, the concept of kairos challenges us to find a different relationship to time and the potential stresses and agitations it can bring.
We can get really bogged down in chronological time in our daily lives. It’s often necessary — and indeed healthy — to maintain a schedule and track our commitments carefully. It keeps us organized, respects time as a limited resource, and helps us anticipate and prepare for specific tasks and moments. Yet, we also hopefully know that when our lives are completely scheduled out with no space for spontaneity, we can end up slogging through life robotically.
The idea of kairos can help us understand the complementary element that must be present within our chronological living. What does having a lot of “clock time” matter if it’s not meaningful? To tap into meaningful moments, we need to be willing to be vulnerable; we need to commit to being present when spending time with others; we need to approach interactions with an attitude of humble mutuality and reciprocal encounter. These underlying attitudes can help foster kairosmoments in our days, and when we experience more spontaneous kairos moments, they help underscore the positive impact of living out such values. While major moments like a milestone birthday party or a marriage proposal may be obvious kairos moments, smaller kairos moments can come in the regular flow of life with the right mindset. Easier said than done, I know.Read the whole article at Grotto Network, where you can check out lots of great articles and videos to help you make an impact, navigate life, and keep the faith. The archive of my contributions is also housed there at this link.
