Slow Down for Lent

February is finally over
Really it seems to me it went quickly
Not being a fan of cold and wet
(And few who have jobs or responsibilities they must commute for are fans)...
I am glad to see the back end
Of this too-often icy, stormy, and snowy month.
Too many people had accidents this month, and too many died.

And it occurs to me that the beginning of March can be just as bad.

If you must give up something for Lent,
Why not give up jockeying for position on the highway,
Zooming past the annoying slowpokes,
Barging into and through traffic,
And driving over the speed limit?

Take a little more time.
What's your rush?
If you speed through life,
You may just get to its end a little sooner than you might like,
And without noticing the beauty on the way.

Letting someone else go first might make a difference in their life, and driving a little slower and more carefully might save your life, and the lives of others too.

Taking it easy on the roads this Lent might be not only a fast, but a gift to yourself, your family, and to the people you share the roads with.
Truly this would be a Godly fast, and a good habit to retain once Lent is past.

I promise not to honk.

Tending The Flock of God

After 1 Peter 5:
Tend the flock of God, but not by driving them with force and law, but by leading them gently; be an example to the flock so that, when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.

Snow and Sin

Snow covers this morning in my little town.
It hides a good quantity of minor suburban lawn-sins.
The boy's toy truck abandoned in the back yard becomes a small white mound,
The Christmas tree awaiting use in a campfire next year becomes a larger hummock,
Places where fallen twigs needed picking up, or where chipmunks and beetles have ruined bits of lawn are totally hidden away.
Each groundskeeping sin is covered by pure robes of snow, whiter than any Earthly fuller could bleach.

It is with joy that I report that, like my minor suburban groundskeeping crimes, our personal and corporate sins can similarly be covered, forgiven, and hidden away.

And how is this possible, when the ones you sinned against are resolute against you, or long lost, in perhaps many ways?

It is only possible as we all belong to God, and any real crimes committed against each other belong, in the end, to our loving God, who is as broad as creation and as patient as eternity. Seek forgiveness from those you have harmed, if possible, and make peace, but also, bring your sins to God's throne, and you will receive the peace of God.

Always Wanting More

...
We want more
We need more
More money
More things
More energy
More enthusiasm
More life

Often we feel that we don’t have enough

Just the other day, while thinking that I did not have enough time for myself,
to do the things that I hoped to do, to contemplate, to create, to help, and even just to relax...
I drove by a cluster of emergency vehicles on the edge of a road

The people working there wanted more too
More time to help
More blood
More speed
More equipment
More life-saving drugs
More skilled hands

Suddenly, the everyday ‘mores’ and ‘needs’ that had filled my day became much, much smaller.

May God grant you more:
More vision
More inspiration
More balance
More love
More energy

May God grant you less:
Less distractions
Less self-orientation
Less feeling sorry for yourself
Less inclination to do things that are not helpful

And may God grant you Peace.

Together

Together
We are together;
We do things together.
We want to be together.
Sometimes we do things apart,
Even things that our partners don’t understand or like,
But we like to do things together.
We eat together;
We pray together;
We are together.

We think differently about a lot of things;
We discuss, argue even, but at the end of the day;
We are together.
There is no physical chain that holds us;
There is no law that compels us;
There is no force that prevents us from leaving;
We can go separate ways if we like;
And sometimes we will go separate ways;
But we like being together;
And we will come back together;
We are together.

May God bless us with many relationships like this;
In our relationships with God;
In our relationships with each other;
And in our corporate relationships;
May we be always
Together

Starting Over for Lent

I threw it all away today

All the extra words
All the sheets of paper
All the clutter all the stuff
All the angry feelings
At the foolish and the evil
All the hopeless anger
All the thoughts and plans

Today my desk is empty
Today I said goodbye
Today I'm starting over

Me and that big blue sky

To The Saints Of The Church In Dar Es Salaam

When needed, we are there
We visit you in prison
We feed your hungry
We clothe your naked
We heal your sick
We rebuild your homes
We bring sight to your blind
We tell you of God
We restore your Faith

Every day, if we obey God, we should be doing these things for those in need, free of concern for labels or borders, free of concern for names, or orientations.

We are all sorts of people, and invite all sorts of people to join in our ministry, but our souls are one.

Our calling is the same one that brought us to you when you were called sinful, unworthy, soulless, and irredeemable.

Our calling continues, welcoming and healing others called sinful, unworthy, soulless, and irredeemable.

May we continue always to do what we see our Father in Heaven doing.