How I Observe Lent

 

For years, rather than “giving up something for Lent,” I have prayed for a word or a phrase to focus on during Lent. The word(s) have surprised me sometimes. One year it was “Rejoice.” Another year it was “Play,” something I’m not very good at (still). The point of “giving up something” or doing something each day of Lent is to help us focus throughout each day on God when we reach for what we have “given up” or for me, how my Lenten phrase recalls my attention to what God is asking me to do.

 One year I started writing down the ways I observed my “victim identity” shaping my personality. That Lenten observance lasted for seven years of Lents and helped me to let go of many of them. I’m far less likely to fall into “victim thinking” now.

 This year’s phrase is “Let go.” I can think of many things I need to let go of, but I’m trying to take this one of the 40 days at a time and not “think my way through” to Easter (something I’m really good at but it leaves God out of the conversation. What do you think I need to let go of, God?)

 Today, I’m trying to let God help me let go of using this day in ways that are not good for me or for who I believe God is calling me to become. I have been saying for years that I have a lot of writing I want to do, so writing this blog and another writing project are my focus for what to do with my time today as I let go of doing nothing.

 There’s nothing inherently wrong with doing nothing, it’s sometimes how I am open to new insights and clarity about who I am, but I’ve done way too much of it lately. So today I’m letting go for this moment. I may need to let go of it several times today…letting go is harder than it sounds, and I can only do it with God’s help. I’ll be interested tomorrow to see what I need to let go of tomorrow, not trying to figure it out today.

     Do you do anything as a way of observing Lent? I’m interested to hear!

Now I Become Myself (May Sarton)

 

I've been on a  journey, you know, looking for who I am, what my priorities are.
Lately I've had a lot of time for recognizing who I am: child of God, created in the image and likeness of God (yes, even me!), and spiritual director, writer, blogger.  This poem speaks so clearly to me at this season!

Now I Become Myself by May Sarton

Now I become myself. It's taken
Time, many years and places;

I have been dissolved and shaken,
Worn other people's faces,
Run madly, as if Time were there,
Terribly old, crying a warning,
"Hurry, you will be dead before—"
(What? Before you reach the morning?
Or the end of the poem is clear?
Or love safe in the walled city?)
Now to stand still, to be here,
Feel my own weight and density!
The black shadow on the paper
Is my hand; the shadow of a word
As thought shapes the shaper
Falls heavy on the page, is heard.
All fuses now, falls into place
From wish to action, word to silence,
My work, my love, my time, my face
Gathered into one intense
Gesture of growing like a plant.
As slowly as the ripening fruit
Fertile, detached, and always spent,
Falls but does not exhaust the root,
So all the poem is, can give,
Grows in me to become the song,
Made so and rooted by love.
Now there is time and Time is young.
O, in this single hour I live
All of myself and do not move.
I, the pursued, who madly ran,
Stand still, stand still, and stop the sun!

Journey to Jerusalem through Lent 1

         Today we begin our journey through the 40 days of Lent. Many of us will receive and wear our ashes to remind us that we are mortal, and as a sign of our desire to follow Jesus all the way to Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus recognizes that it is time to start that journey:

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51)

        The disciples are also on this journey with us and with Jesus.  They have been following Jesus for the three years of his ministry, watching him heal, teach, and challenge the religious authorities of his day. He has told stories (parables), and he has shown his dependence on his Abba, God-the-Father, who sent him, God-the-Son, to show us new ways of understanding God’s tremendous love for us. Now, the disciples will walk with Jesus toward all that will happen in Jerusalem.  They don’t know what will happen, although we do.  And they still have a lot to learn from him, just as we do. Each Wednesday until Holy Week, I will post one of these reflections on how Jesus continued teaching along the journey to Jerusalem.

In the very next verses of Luke 9 (9:52-55), two of the disciples, James and John, angered because the Samaritans will not allow them to rest in their village, urge Jesus to call down fire from heaven to destroy the village. Clearly, they understand that Jesus has the power from God to do this; just as clearly, they don’t understand that is completely inconsistent with his mission.

Then, others wish to join Jesus and the disciples (Luke 57-62), but they have other priorities: desire to be comfortable and secure, to first bury a father, to say farewell to those he is about to leave. But Jesus makes it clear that following him must always take priority:  “Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

For the most part, we will all be comfortable and secure during this Lent, and we will be able to fulfill our responsibilities to ourselves and others. But as we choose to observe Lent this year, may we be reminded of our commitment to follow Jesus by how we live our faith. If we have chosen a practice for Lent, whether we have chosen to deny ourselves something or to fast from some negative emotion (anger, complaining, resentment, or another) or to do some special reading or prayers, may we be reminded each day of our vocation as his committed followers.                                                                                                 

Prayer (by Satish Kumar): May God kindle in us the fire of love to bring us alive and give warmth to the world. Lead us from death to life; from falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.

 

God's Playfulness (Celebrating Mardi Gras)

 

God’s Playfulness

        Have you ever thought there may be a playful side to God? As I watch some of the festivities for Mardi Gras, your playfulness and joy are delightful! I believe God is delighting in your joy, too. There is a lot of evidence in creation that God has a sense of humor! These are just a few of the insects that tell me so!

ADEGSM/Getty Images

                                   Shawn Thomas/Getty Images

Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday” in French) has become one of the most playful days of the Christian year. Lent has been and continues to be for some, 40 days of “giving up” something as way of reminding ourselves of our dependence on God. The day before Lent starts has become a day for extravagantly colorful playfulness. 

       God plays, too, with extravagant colors and combinations of creatures:

There is the sea, vast and wide, with its moving swarms past counting, living things great and small. The ships are moving there and the monsters you made to play with. (Ps 104:25-26, NABR)

        Children NEED to play to learn. But some of us feel that to please God as adults we must be serious all the time. Jesus says this:

²He called a child, whom he put among them, ³and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)

Humility is one of the keys to being like a little child, to relax enough to be silly, playful, open to delight as God has created us in His image and likeness.       “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.” (Psalm 149:4) There is no room for pride in play and laughter! So let’s play and laugh to the glory of God!

Prayer Suggestion: Beloved Lord, you created us with delight and the gifts of playfulness and humor. May we cherish and enjoy these gifts, especially on this “Fat Tuesday” as we celebrate playfulness.  Amen.