Recently, my oldest son, S, has discovered those ID tags, and loves to wear them around the house. He knows nothing of the memories that they hold - he was only three months old at the time, and thankfully home with daddy. But watching him wear them around the house - gleefully and playfully enjoying a new toy (under watchful eye, don't worry) - has reminded me on a daily basis of the ways in which God takes what is broken, raw and exposed, and fear-filled, and weaves hope and life and redemption throughout. The ways in which the grip of fear has been and is being loosened, and new life is seeping out - in me and in others. And it is a good and beautiful thing.
God loves us far too much to leave us as we are.
And he takes even that which represents death and fear to us and in us, and truly is death and fear, and brings new life, hope and redemption.
And constantly invites us to step closer and let Him be at work.
For me, Lent, or the 40 days leading up to Easter, starting today, is one of those seasons where I join with millions of others in history and present time, to intentionally step back and ask God to prepare me to receive new life, hope and redemption. Where I consider earnestly - what might be the places in which He wants me to grow - and what practices might I be able to put into place to give Him space to do that - to remove distractions, or to add practices, so that ultimately, I can hear Him more clearly, and be shaped and stretched in the ways that he wants to shape me and stretch me, for His glory, my sake, and the benefit of others. If you are Christian, and it is not a practice that you are accustomed to observing, I would encourage you to ask questions and learn more - I have found it to be a worthwhile discipline and practice - and something that extends far beyond self-control or just doing things that we should already be doing. Rather it really is an invitation for Jesus to meet us and transform us. To empty us of the idols that we have worshipped and depended on in his stead, and to fill our empty places with his presence and his fullness.
Disciplines should challenge us - but not overwhelm us. They should be meaningful and doable - few in number - and places that are authentic to where we are and where God is inviting us, not others.
As I been processing through my "vulnerability" and "real me" series, and become more aware of the areas in my life that I long for Jesus to speak into, Lent has fallen very aptly. So here's what I think some of the invitations for me are, and the practices that I am going to (attempt to, with grace) put into place during this season of Lent:
inviation: Move towards community for the sake of transformation not validation
discipline: delete facebook from my phone for this period.
I don't think facebook itself is a problem for me - but the very quick access, any time I want it, tends to allow me to check in constantly, pat myself on the back based on how many "likes" or comments I get - to seek quick validation or connection rather than real relationship - and in general, feel more connected to people than I actually am. Removing it from a "instant fix" will force me to more actively decide if it's necessary to post something or check in - and hopefully enable me to be more present where I am. Believe it or not, anything not on my phone takes much more effort, thanks to tiny, grabby hands which love computers and especially the caps lock button. :-P The goal in its stead is to connect directly, via text or phone or chat or in person with real-life friends who know me, can and do challenge me, and with whom I can "do life" together in meaningful ways. And to commit to honesty and transparency, rather than image maintenance with them and in my social media appearances.
invitation: to continue to grow in an understanding of who I am, who Jesus says that I am, and what that causes me to do and how it causes me to relate to others.
discipline: be intentionally faithful and present in introspection and community.
Committing to continue (regularly) journaling, praying, reading, writing (introspection), and inviting a few close friends to pray alongside me, committing my own vulnerability and openness, and asking them to share with me constructive direction, re-direction, laughter, and companionship (community).
At present, I'm figuring out a book to read, as part of that intentionality - as I already read daily, it's not adding something, merely focusing what I read. I am considering one of Richard Rohr's books - "Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life," or "Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent" or "Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self." If you would like to read along with me, I'd love company.
invitation: to say meaningful YES's & NO's - to my sons, and to God, as well as to others
discipline: no idea yet.
The thought behind this is that often times I find myself spiraling into patterns of always saying YES or always saying NO, for convenience, for order, for self-protection or self-image, without there being much discernment or risk or wisdom in the process. Maybe the discipline is as simple as taking a meaningful pause before answering YES or NO or even just asking God for daily awareness of my YES's and NO's. This is still TBD.
Even though Lent technically started today, I am just now starting. Grace abounds, but so does the invitation to faithfulness. So right now, I am going to be faithful, and go ahead and hit that little delete button on my phone. Eeeek. So much harder than it sounds.
May this be a transformational season for us all! I look forward to looking back and seeing the ways in which God has once again taken that which is fear and death, and brought forth life and hope in its stead.
And I would love to hear how you are observing Lent, if you are...
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