 Pastor’s
Page
In
Whistling in the Dark: A Doubter’s Dictionary, author Frederick Buechner
says: “In many cultures, there is an ancient custom of giving a tenth of
each year’s income to some holy use. For Christians, to observe the 40 days
of Lent is to do the same thing with roughly a tenth of the year’s days...
During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it means
to be themselves.”
Lent has been observed in many different ways across time...by giving up
things we enjoy so that the money saved on those things could be given to
the poor...by engaging in a deeper prayer practice...by making time for
daily confession...even by observing what one author calls “holy hilarity”
(deliberately making time to laugh). The point of whatever we do is to
deepen our self-awareness, since that is integrally tied to our faith.
Here are six
very different ways you might want to try that during the six weeks of Lent.
You can use them in any order – you can choose one practice each week, or
try each practice one day of each week – enjoy, deepen, reflect, grow...
1. Think
about this: if you had only one message to leave to those people who are
most important to you, what would it be? Write it down. Draw it. Then call,
e-mail, or send it to those people.
2. Robert
Fulghum talks about making up pretend “secret identities” that he shares
when he ends up sitting next to a stranger on a plane. For example, when the
stranger asks who he is, or what he does, he might tell them he’s an
astronaut...or a cellist...or whatever else strikes his fancy. Who would you
like to be that you’ve never had a chance to be? Try this when you’re
sitting next to someone you don’t know – see what happens.
3. When you first arise
in the morning, reflect on this question: if this were the last day of your
life, what would you do with it? Then, go and do it! Try something
new...call or write or be with someone you love...eat something
wonderful...go on an adventure. (You never know...it may be the last day of
your life.)
4. In a
situation where you’re inclined to put yourself first, deliberately take a
subordinate position. Give up your place at the head of the check-out line
or ticket line, or your seat on the bus, to someone else. Take the money you
definitely planned to spend on something for yourself (a new item of
clothing, new T.V., whatever), and put it into an envelope and send it to
one of your favorite charities. How does it feel to put someone else first
in a very concrete way? What does this tell you about yourself?
5. Write (or
paint or draw or model in wood or clay) a brief meditation on the meaning of
the following rabbinic understanding: Every time we walk down the street, we
are preceded by hosts of angels singing “Make way, make way, make way for
the image of God.”
6. Macrina
Wiederkehr celebrates her birthday once a month by honoring those who have
loved her and sustained her work. Figure out a way to do this for yourself.
By the end of the week, plan a celebration, complete with decorations and
food (even a cup of coffee and a cookie can be celebrations, when shared
with others). Invite over (or plan to meet) some of those people who are
especially dear to you, and celebrate you, them, and your relationship!
One final
practice possibility – sit quietly; as you breathe in, pray “May I be true
to myself...”; as you breathe out, pray “and useful to the journey.” Do it
several times, until you can feel the prayer praying you. Enjoy your deep
connection with the Holy.
May our Lenten journeys all be blessed...
Blessings, Pastor Sharyl
|
