It was amazing last weekend to hear from four young women serving in the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer program as part of our 22nd Annual Mission Month at church! Their energy, experience, and learned wisdom was inspiring. This month’s theme around “service” has me thinking deeply about what it really means to be a Christian—a follower of Jesus.
In a blog post I read today someone wrote that being a Christian is not about “what’s in it for me,” but “what can I do for you.” The latter vision entails not only “doing good” but truly seeking to partner with God in engaging thoughtfully and faithfully issues of inequality, justice, ecological imbalances, and prejudices (ours and others’). Emily, Grace, Hanbyeol and Allie showed us last week that they are living into that vision of Christian faith wherein we are “for” the other more so than ourselves.
I hope to take this to heart as I consider more deeply this Lenten Season God’s call on my heart. Lenten practices started sometime during the Middle Ages as a preparation for baptism and formal inclusion in the Christian community. One of the key aspects included “repentance” (literally to turn away from one thing and toward another). What do I need to turn away from and toward more intentionally?
My practice this Lent will be to try to journal more regularly (hopefully daily) around this theme of “repentance” as a daily spiritual practice. I love journaling, but rarely take the time to do it. I have found it very helpful in working through and sorting out my life. I wonder if it might reveal some things to help me see my life being “for” others.
What practices are you engaging this Lent? How will you challenge yourself to live more fully into your faith in God? I would love to hear. Post your responses in the comments below so others might be enriched by the great diversity of practices.