Laying down the keel during Lent

Living here in Mystic is a wonderful experience. During the spring and summer the coast is speckled with sailboats gliding through the wind and waves. Coming from central Ohio, I haven't seen too many sailboats dotting the farmland around Columbus! So, for me yawls, ketches, cutters, and catboats are very mysterious critters indeed. Why don't they tip over in the wind?  One word...keel.

After a little study I discovered that the keel provides ballast or a lowering of the center of gravity to keep the boat from tipping over in strong winds. I was surprised to learn that laying the keel is the first step of construction and nothing is more significant except the launching of the boat itself. (Here end our Popular Mechanics lesson on home shipbuilding.)

As we approach the great liturgical season of Lent the methodology of ship building can hint to our spiritual priorities as spiritual seekers. Our souls, like keels well below the waterline of daily life, provide the necessary ballast and balance to keep us from tipping over in the crazy winds that buffet us. Laying down a sound keel is absolutely vital in order to keep afloat and not capsize.

 I submit that one of the best ways to begin to lay down this keel for soulful daily navigation is to spend 15 minutes in a chair, alone and silent. Yep that's it! St. Teresa of Avila wrote: "All difficulties in prayer can be traced to one cause: praying as if God were absent." Our entire spiritual journey is coming to believe that God is present.

So, let's cooperate with grace this Lent. The God who has touched your heart to read this far is up to something in your life. What is it? Get curious. Let's begin to sit down, quiet down, and listen for just 15 minutes to that still small voice of God's love. Let's begin to sit down, quiet down and listen to One who is very present and has His hand on the tiller.