Detached!

Sharina Gerald

Lately, I have been reflecting on the concept of detachment, not only what it means to me personally, but what it means for us as Catholic women. One of the most striking realisations is that, as women, we are often tempted, when faced with multiple possible outcomes in a situation, to attach ourselves to at least one of them. What I have come to understand in a profound way is that even when a possible outcome may be intrinsically good, it (the outcome) may not be the perfect will of God. Many times, we may find that the outcome we desire or cling to is not inherently bad; it may simply be that it is not yet the appointed time.

Recently, I shared with my parish community how God reveals His wisdom to us through nature. Through creation, we see God revealing truths about His nature and His divine order. In nature, we observe times and seasons, cycles of growth, transformation, and renewal. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is a season for everything. Every living thing passes through phases of development, and we, too, experience seasons in our lives.

One of the images that came to my mind at the beginning of this year, while contemplating detachment, was that of the menstrual cycle. Over the course of several weeks, the endometrial lining is broken down, released during menstruation, and then built up again in preparation for new life. Throughout this process, many experience discomfort, pain, and fatigue. Yet, when the menstrual cycle does not occur as expected, there is often concern or uncertainty about what may be wrong.

Similarly, a seed loses itself to become a new plant. The seed doesn’t cling to its identity as a seed. As long as it is a seed, it embraces its identity as a seed. However, it doesn’t cling to its identity as a seed but empties itself to become a new plant. Likewise, the heat of the Sun causes water molecules to evaporate. They become clouds and then the clouds break and we have rain that fills the oceans, rivers and lakes.

In many ways, detachment mirrors this natural rhythm. We learn to embrace each season and phase of life. We prepare for life, yet even when that anticipated life does not come, we are called to embrace the reality of loss or endings. However, within what may appear as death, there is always the promise of renewal. And within renewal, there is hope.

Just as in nature we see the seasons, the times and the cycles and we learn to embrace those changes and those detachments, let us learn to live in the moment for what it’s truly worth. Just as in nature, the seed transcends into a plant that has the potential to bear many fruits with seed…Just as the water molecules do not cling to the identity of being a drop in the ocean but let go to become the cloud and to become the rain… Let us learn to sacrifice the flesh so our spirits can rise, so that we can grow, so that we can make room for new
life.

As we approach Lent and this extraordinary Jubilee Year dedicated to St Francis, let us do so prayerfully to come into a deeper union with God. Let us not be afraid of giving up that which no longer serves us for good in order to facilitate new beginnings, growth and transformation. May we also, like St Francis, see the goodness of God in all creation. May we let go so we can grasp this new life waiting on us.