March 2009-Pastor's Thoughts

Pastor Thoughts – March 2009
Dear People of Faith,
This month we observe the liturgical season of Lent, which is the forty days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, not counting Sundays—for no fasting was appropriate on the weekly anniversaries of the resurrection. From the earliest times in the church Lent has been a time for the twin disciplines of reflection and preparation. Reflection involves taking an honest look at what was and is; preparation involves readying oneself for what lies ahead. I suspect that most of us don’t do enough of either. I suppose some may say, “Well, I do a lot of reflecting these days. I spend a lot of time remembering the past, reliving the ‘good old days.’” But genuine reflection is much more than just remembering what happened to us, more than just recalling to mind all those happy experiences when we were younger and stronger, more virile and, often, happier. The reflection that Lent beckons us to practice is more akin to the ancient practice of contemplation. It considers not just what happened to us, but more importantly what did those experiences mean in our lives and how were we challenged and changed by them.
In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul tells us that “we know that all things work together for good for those who love God.” If that assertion is true, then we need to be asking ourselves “What good came out of the experiences of my life—both the difficult and the delightful experiences? How did God use what I went through to make me closer to God and a better person? Why did I meet the people I met, love the people I loved, confront the people who challenged me? Why did I encounter the troubles and pain I endured? Why did I receive the blessings and joy I’ve known?” This is what reflection is all about—finding meaning in the experiences of our lives. When we find meaning in the events and circumstances of life, then we reaffirm that God is with us, speaking to us, transforming us, and using us all the time. This reflection renews in us the faith that the eternal God is alive and present with us and we are alive and present in that eternity. Nothing is devoid of meaning for us as Christians. Life is not just a chance roll of the dice, but every encounter with another and every event of life becomes an opportunity to experience a moment in God. Every disease, every divorce, every darkness and heartache, every miracle, every healing, every lucky break, every unexpected success and blessing—all of these make us who we are, and who we are is whom God loves and whom God uses to bless this world. Lent is a time to consider these things, and to be our “best selves.”
Lent is also a time of preparation. In the early days of Christianity the period was one of preparation for baptism, which took place at the Easter Vigil, the worship service on the Saturday before Easter. It was a time of learning and instruction to get ready for the new life of being Christian (which was symbolized by wearing new clothes on Easter—which is where we get that tradition). For us who have already pledged our lives to Jesus Lent becomes a time to prepare ourselves anew each year for what it might mean to be people of the resurrection. When we reflect on what we have been and are, we naturally turn to thoughts about what we want to be. Lent is a time to look again at the life of Jesus and what it means to be his disciple (student) and follower. Who was he that we might be like him? At the Council Retreat in February we spent time spinning dreams and visions of what we wanted our congregation to be. All of us need to do that in our own lives. We get these visions from God, and we see these visions by looking and listening, by reading the Scriptures and meditating on where God is leading us. And mostly the newness of life comes to us as we act in different and more God-conscious ways. If you want to
be better pray-er, then pray. If you want to be more loving, then love. If you want to be a better witness of the faith, then start talking to people about God. If you want to be more generous, then give. If you want to help more people, then get involved in doing something to help. Act on your desire, and you will become what you do. This is how you prepare for what lies ahead, for every day of our lives is a rehearsal for tomorrow. This Lent, take time to reflect and prepare. Everything you’ve experienced is prelude for everything you can be.
With affection,
Pastor Carlan