Pastor Alison Additions:
Directly, or indirectly, we are all affected by this current economic crisis. Some of us may be stressed out in our own personal lives. Others may experience a sense of helplessness as friends, family members, or neighbors endure increasingly difficult times. Even those of us fortunate enough to be spared the most brutal hardship may feel as though we are near the end of our ropes, barely clinging to our health, homes, or property. One minor misstep or personal crisis may push us onto the streets, or camping out in our cars. I know that I have several emergency back-up plans. They seem to center on getting rid of most of my possessions and living in a Volkswagen Vanagon, becoming a travel writer (my blog will be called Let’s Go Off – Off the beaten path, Off our rockers, and Out of our minds), or living in my friend’s flat in Spain and teaching English.
As we approach the season of Lent, 40 days of reflection and penitence starting with Ash Wednesday on February 22, my thoughts naturally turn to those places in all of our lives where we struggle to find meaning. Lent tends to lead those of us who follow the liturgical calendar to reflect on our mortality with eyes wide open. And when faced with mortality, we may desire to make changes in our lives, not because we expect something in return, but because our lives are empty and meaningless. We make changes because we have exhausted all other possibilities, or have nowhere else to turn. It is time to take stock of our lives, to figure out what’s important. My friend Carmichael often says that if we want to see where God stands in our lives, then we need to go to the “if” and “but” places in our lives. In other words, I will follow Jesus as Lord if it means that I can keep my smart phone. I will follow Jesus as Lord, but I won’t give up my laptop, my Ipod, or my gym membership. But isn’t it possible for the emptiness of our lives to drag all of us by the ear to God, renewing and restoring what may feel like a distant and fractured relationship?
It is common for people to give up things for Lent. One of my friends gives up sweets. Another gives up junk food. However, the spirit behind giving up things for Lent should not be self-serving, but grounded in genuine struggle and hardship. In the instance of giving up fattening foods or sweets there is often an ulterior motive – losing weight.
While I won’t presume to judge the motivations of those giving up cheesecake or chocolate for Lent, I have thought about an alternative approach. Instead of giving up certain undesirable habits, how about making a commitment to take something on this season? How about practicing random acts of kindness.
This Lent, I am going to try to say at least one kind thing to every person that I encounter, even the annoying folks that push all of my buttons in the Starbucks line – those that are indecisive about their orders or exceedingly chatty with the baristas. Also, I am going to make a greater effort to show my gratitude to God by thanking those around me for all that they do to be God’s presence in the world, especially those folks that volunteer so much of their time and resources to the SPUMC community. Their generosity is not only contagious, but brings such joy.
Blessings,
Alison
