Not ready

We’re continuing through the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tonight, Dr Strange. It is certainly a strange insertion, but it contains this great exchange:

Dr Stephen Strange: “I’m not ready.”
The Ancient One: “No one ever is. We don’t get to choose our time.”

That’s the truth of it.

In the Gospel According to John, the first of Jesus’ signs takes place at a wedding in Cana. To the lasting shame of a family, the wine has run out. Jesus’ mother Mary brings this to his attention, believing that he can do something about this, but he responds, “my time has not yet come.”

I’m not ready.

No one ever is. We don’t get to choose our time.

Mary ignores him, and, essentially, forces his hand. Because his time has come, but it isn’t his choice. Because he isn’t ready, but ready isn’t the qualifying criterion.

The question is not, are we ready, but, will we step forward and make our lives count, for something bigger than ourselves?