Meditations on Lent - #6
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America publishes a Lenten Study Guide as do many other Christian Churches. In week 1 of the guide the reader is reminded: “Through the four practices of Lent – repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving, and works of love – we turn inward so that we may turn outward, toward God and our neighbors.”
Often, I read one or more brief spiritual reminders at the beginning of each day before I check in with friends via the internet and then head to the gym. My goal is to attempt to begin the day with the clear spiritual intention of being an actor. It is very easy for me to become a reactor who allows life to happen to him.
Grandma Fannie often reminded her grandchildren and others, “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” I was thinking of this reminder as I reread the “four practices of Lent” and contemplated my spiritual intention for the day. If my guide is to do unto others what I would them do to me is there really any such thing as sacrificial giving? Do us humans long term reap what we sew?
In the local newspaper I read reports of those who have been arrested and who are spoken about as if they were worse than or less then the “good people of the community”. It does not take much for one of us to be suddenly snatched from the good box and thrust into the bad box. One of those about who I read this morning was an official of a nearby community who was arrested for driving under the influence. The city council has suspended him without pay. Why without pay, I wonder? Why suspend him at all? Is there more we, the other community members, do not know? Regardless, why without pay? Some might suggest that this sort of treatment happens a lot. Why should a city official be treated any differently? I do not think punishing a person when they have made a mistake is going help that person or his/her family. What help is being offered this person? Who is saying to him or her, “We know you are just like us. We know we all make mistakes and we all need a helping hand at times.”
I also read about other people being arrested on various charges. These people are the sons, daughter, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, cousins of ours or our neighbors. The goal on one level is to protect other neighbors. Yet, what would I like to see happen with those persons if they were my son, daughter, sister, brother, cousin or other person close to me? I would want them to be given whatever help they need to allow them to, if possible, to lovingly reconnect with neighbors.
Part of the process of growing spiritually during Lent and the rest of year is setting clear intentions to be a good neighbor who strives to treat others as I want to be treated. When I fall short of this goal I want be honest and make amends when possible. I want to honor the teachings of Grandma Fannie who was doing her best to honor the teachings of Jesus as she understood them.
Written March 12, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America publishes a Lenten Study Guide as do many other Christian Churches. In week 1 of the guide the reader is reminded: “Through the four practices of Lent – repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving, and works of love – we turn inward so that we may turn outward, toward God and our neighbors.”
Often, I read one or more brief spiritual reminders at the beginning of each day before I check in with friends via the internet and then head to the gym. My goal is to attempt to begin the day with the clear spiritual intention of being an actor. It is very easy for me to become a reactor who allows life to happen to him.
Grandma Fannie often reminded her grandchildren and others, “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” I was thinking of this reminder as I reread the “four practices of Lent” and contemplated my spiritual intention for the day. If my guide is to do unto others what I would them do to me is there really any such thing as sacrificial giving? Do us humans long term reap what we sew?
In the local newspaper I read reports of those who have been arrested and who are spoken about as if they were worse than or less then the “good people of the community”. It does not take much for one of us to be suddenly snatched from the good box and thrust into the bad box. One of those about who I read this morning was an official of a nearby community who was arrested for driving under the influence. The city council has suspended him without pay. Why without pay, I wonder? Why suspend him at all? Is there more we, the other community members, do not know? Regardless, why without pay? Some might suggest that this sort of treatment happens a lot. Why should a city official be treated any differently? I do not think punishing a person when they have made a mistake is going help that person or his/her family. What help is being offered this person? Who is saying to him or her, “We know you are just like us. We know we all make mistakes and we all need a helping hand at times.”
I also read about other people being arrested on various charges. These people are the sons, daughter, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, cousins of ours or our neighbors. The goal on one level is to protect other neighbors. Yet, what would I like to see happen with those persons if they were my son, daughter, sister, brother, cousin or other person close to me? I would want them to be given whatever help they need to allow them to, if possible, to lovingly reconnect with neighbors.
Part of the process of growing spiritually during Lent and the rest of year is setting clear intentions to be a good neighbor who strives to treat others as I want to be treated. When I fall short of this goal I want be honest and make amends when possible. I want to honor the teachings of Grandma Fannie who was doing her best to honor the teachings of Jesus as she understood them.
Written March 12, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
RSS Feed