We often think Lent is just about us – our prayers, our sacrifices, our own spiritual growth. But if we really want to understand Lent, we need to look beyond ourselves. Imagine God saying, “Enjoy your blessings, but make sure everyone has enough. Pray with passion, but let your prayers be for your neighbor’s needs.…
Us and Them
I read this morning, that “there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ in God’s economy and off my mind went to spinning. The world is rife with such divisions, where “us” is perpetually righteous and “them” perpetually wrong – a convenient but flawed perspective. Lent, with its history of my own stumbles and renewed efforts, reminds…
Mercy
The diminishing presence of “mercy” in our public and private discourse reflects a societal shift, and during Lent it’s worth exploring the nuances of this decline. For example, our society prioritizes punishment and retribution over rehabilitation and restoration. This is evident in the “tough on crime” rhetoric, the increasing severity of sentencing, and the emphasis…
Spiritual But Not Religious
This Lent, beyond our shared fasting, let’s consider a complex trend: the rise of “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR) individuals, particularly among younger generations. Pew Research and others confirm a decline in traditional religious affiliation alongside a surge in interest in personal spirituality—mindfulness, meditation, and a sense of universal connection. Reasons vary: disillusionment with religious…
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday? It’s like the first day of school, but instead of new notebooks and pencils, you get a smudge of dirt on your forehead. And instead of fearing the cafeteria’s meatloaf, you’re dreading giving up that nightly pint of ice cream. Remember those first days of school? You’d stride in, ready to conquer calculus…