Enter into God's Rest

This week on your Lenten journey, you will reflect on what makes you weary in life. Are you weary of seemingly unresolvable conflicts both personally and globally? Do you feel forlorn about your progress in the spiritual life? Lent is only two weeks old; are you perhaps already growing weary of it? Jesus rested at the well in Samaria when he felt weary and tired, isn't that permission for you to do the same? Without guilt and as a Lenten exercise, rest for a few hours this week. Perhaps you will meet someone like the Samaritan woman who questions you in such a way that you will discover a truth about yourself. Share with us what makes you weary. What was the result of your time of rest?

Battling Evil – Close to Home

In Thursday’s reading, Edward Hays challenges us to see that the disciples and in fact, even Jesus, aren’t that different from us – in facing many challenges, temptations and difficulties, yet even these aren’t reasons to avoid joining the battle against darkness. Yet, Hays says, Jesus did not call his disciples to go forth on crusades to battle distant evils. Rather he called them to face evil right in their midst. The first place to encounter darkness and evil – and the most dangerous place – is in your heart.

Now is the time for us to examine our hearts, to see what lies there and to challenge ourselves to small and large changes, so that we might be transformed. Hays calls us to consider in today’s reading, what reforms we might like to take. Pick one thing today that needs reform, change, transformation in your life. It can be small! Work on that change and be open to how that change brings deeper, unexpected results.

Have you ever made a positive change that resulted in much deeper and powerful transformation? Have you seen this kind of truth at work in our world?

Get Off the Bench

In today's reading for our Lenten Study, Edward Hays tells a story about a famous NFL quarterback, Fran Tarkenton. When he was a third-string college quarterback, he seized the moment by running onto the field. The first-string quarterback figured the coach had made a substitution, which the coach had not. Tarkenton called a play that went for a touchdown, with several more big plays following so that the team won. He got off the bench, and his actions made him a career!

Hays asks the question: What is the point when we cease waiting and jump up and do what needs to be done?

In reflecting on this, I think I tend to be the kind of person who jumps in to get things done, sometimes speaking or acting where some waiting would be better! (Of course, I do tend to wait on the things I would rather NOT do!!) In our faith lives there needs to be a balance between waiting on God, and acting in faith. How do we find that balance?

Do you tend to wait until things happen to you? Or do you tend to charge in and make things happen?

What Are You Doing?

In today’s reading for our Lenten Study, Edward Hays tells a story from the Middle Ages:

A person came to one of the great cathedrals that was being built and stopped at three stone masons who were carving away. The pilgrim asked them all the same question: “What are you doing?”

The first mason said, “Chipping stone, as you can see.” The second mason said, “I am making a living. I’m providing food and shelter for my family.” And the third mason said, “I am building a great cathedral!”

He then asks the questions: How do you view your life’s work: as part of building up a great cathedral – the church, the Body of Christ – or simply as a means of making a living? An important Lenten work is learning to see whatever work you do as being part of the great and divine design to re-create the world.

What about your work – how do you see what do you in your life (work, family, recreation, etc) as a part of building up the Body of Christ?

The Path of Love and the Path of Hate

The theme for this week’s Lenten study is “Where Am I Going?” Hays invites us into a reflection on our life and spiritual journeys, and what paths we take as we move along our journey. In today’s reflection for the first Monday in Lent, he invites us to consider this biblical guide for our journey: “You shall not bear hatred for your neighbor in your heart. Though you may have cause to reprove your neighbor, do not incur sin because of him or her. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against those of your own country. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am your God.” (Lev. 19:17) This guide was relayed by Moses to the people of God wandering in the desert.

Hays notes that two pathways are highlighted here. The pathway of hate and the pathway of love, and he invites reflection on which of the two roads – or alternating one to the other – we habitually travel. Hate is a strong word, and we may shy away from thinking that we follow the pathways of hate. But if we consider hate as disconnection from God, or following roads that lead away from the holy, we might find ourselves there more often. Do we follow the path of hate:

• When we push ourselves beyond our limits?
• When we are too busy to consider the consequences of our actions? (such as what we buy and our part in the global economy or the impacts of our living choices on creation)
• When we try to fix other people and their problems rather than listening with a caring manner of encouragement and support?

What are some of the ways that we follow the paths of hate?
Take some time to reflect and share your thoughts here. Or consider taking five minutes at the end of the day, to look back over the day reflecting on where your actions moved you along the path of love, or along the path of hate. Try not feeling guilty and be gentle with yourself, but simply observe your actions and thoughts and consider why you might have taken that road at that time.

The Lenten Labyrinth

We at Lebanon UMC are undertaking an All Church Lenten study utilizing the book "The Lenten Labyrinth: Daily Reflections for the Journey of Lent" by Edward Hays. Copies are available at the church, or order one yourself, and join us in the pilgrimage of Lent this year. Join with us as we open our hearts to God's leading on the journey! Regular posts will continue as we move through the season.

"Rejoice" Edward Hays begins the introduction of his book The Lenten Labyrinth. "Rejoice! You are about to begin a great adventure and a journey of transformation which holds the power to change - to radically enrich - your way of thinking, loving and believing." As the journey begins, consider these questions: What places in your life do you hope for a change? In what places do you fear change? What resources assist you in moving through change?

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where theieves do not break in and steal. For where your trasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21