Kristin, one of your Catholic fans here. Once again I am printing out your Pastor’s words and using them for my own meditation time. My thanks to both of you.
Kristin, I hope you don’t mind me using your given name, but folks like to hear their name, and it seems more personal, like I am talking to you face to face. I’ll comment on Lent later, but now l have to share about “Don’t Look Up!”. I am not an astronomer, but rather a neuroscientist. I often feel ignored by the general public and even in church. On example:
In February 2020, I was allowed to speak to a group of retirees at church. I shared how dangerous the COVID-19 virus was and the fact that Trump had no idea what he was talking about! Boy, did I receive pushback! One woman came to me and said I shouldn’t be dissing the President because of the Office he holds. I apologized to her if she was offended, but not for what I shared because it was the truth. Years later, a friend shared with me that I scared many people. I shared with her that maybe they needed to be scared, and perhaps the pandemic would not have been so bad.
Thank you for this wonderful sermon. I am crawling out of an awful depression, the worst in 46 years. I understood that one, I don’t yet understand this one other than the weather has been relentlessly grey. Often Lent and my S.A.D. are not aligned. So I’m out of step, but, I have been there.
This was perfect timing for me and my husband. We are feeling the drag of the time, and giving too much energy over to that we argue against. We trust God and the "soundings of the Spirit."
I'm no theologian, but it seems to me that beginning with the imposition of ashes and remembering that we are dust and then Maundy Thursday's foot-washing are ways of preparing ourselves for self-reflection and preparation for action.
As I read today’s newsletter, I was reminded of a book I read many decades ago. Holden Caulfield is the main character in J. D. Salinger’s book, Catcher in the Rye (1951). He sees himself as being on the right side of the fight, and we sympathise with his temptation to fight fire with fire. At the end of his “hero’s journey,” he returns home to a gentle message from his kid sister that helps him see he’s on the verge of becoming what he hates.
“I have laboured carefully, not to mock, lament, or execrate, but to understand human actions.” —Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)
Thank you for this post and thanks to your pastor for an insightful message to lead us on our lenten journey. I am attending a church that unfortunately does not follow the liturgical calendar so I need to seek other sources for these important seasons.
Oh wow. Thank you thank you for this piece. It spoke directly to me in so many ways. Have printed out that sermon. I am so grateful for fellow travellers.
Beautiful thoughts. Such a poet, your pastor. I laughed at this one because I struggle with it so: "As we walk the perilous path between righteous anger and self-righteousness.
How do we not slip down the slope of self-righteousness?
Me too, printing! Fantastic sermon. I may have to move up there and go to your church. Sigh. I lean contemplative, so I'm really digging into that time. I'm also reading a couple of older books I have that called my name this year, one is from the Sacred Space community in Ireland. Tiny book but always timely. You can also read them online. The other book is an old Karl Rahner from my shelf, Prayers For A Lifetime. It's nice to read books with fresh eyes. Lastly and totally unlike me, I'm doing a book study (heavy sigh-but egad I love her) Fleming Rutledge's book The Crucifixion. It's such a great book and long but it's a must read for anyone out there and she writes so beautifully and eloquently and geared for the lay reader.
Love it and when it came up, I had to say yes. Maybe this is my year to step out of my usual box. Apparently so...
I'm glad Lent is falling into place for you; you've shouldered a lot of weight these last few years!
With the barrage of disappointments from so many of my fellow evangelicals I find myself drawn to the memories of my youth in Catholicism. Lent was somber, but yet also somehow full of wonder. The smell of frankincense takes me back to the Easter Triduum services of Holy week, with their once a year rituals. Growing up, we lived only 3 blocks from church so it made for a nice evening walk if the April weather was good.
I find myself really drawn to wonder these days - and I'm happy to exchange the selfish certainty of conservative evangelicalism for it. Your pastor's observations on the ascent psalms fit very well here! The first time we climbed the steps of the Temple ruins in old Jerusalem was breath-taking (literally, because there are a LOT of steps). The stairs become more narrow as you ascend, such that you end up having to just wait there on the stairs as people funnel in. Wait, watch, smell, feel...
The song that stands out most in my memory is "Lord let me walk". The verse "Lord let me cool your lips baked like clay, dried up like rain on a hot dusty day" brings to mind kickball games after school on a dusty spring afternoon. As a kid you think about the heavy parts a bit, but not too much! As childhood memories of goodness and wonder flood back to me reading your post, I can't help but think how all children, all people really, deserve this - to experience goodness and wonder in God's world. How can we not put a priority on bringing it to them? My kids and your kids - but also Ukranian kids, immigrant kids... How can we not be drawn to do more?
Thank you for reminding me of the Easter Stories book - I bought a copy several years ago because our family loved the similar book of Christmas stories, and have never actually read it! Maybe this is the year to dip into it -- I could certainly use some shoring up this year. I am following the lent devotions in Seeking God's Face, Philip Reinders's book that is my default devotional.
Thank you for this. I think I need to join the 'printing it out' brigade. The part about not wallowing in worry but getting busy doing the work of the Spirit particularly resonates.
Kristin, one of your Catholic fans here. Once again I am printing out your Pastor’s words and using them for my own meditation time. My thanks to both of you.
I'm on Day 6 of Kate Bowler's 40ish day devotional entitled "Good Enough." Each day comes with a "good enough" practice that I'm finding life-giving.
I love Kate. She really is one of the best humans.
Kristin, I hope you don’t mind me using your given name, but folks like to hear their name, and it seems more personal, like I am talking to you face to face. I’ll comment on Lent later, but now l have to share about “Don’t Look Up!”. I am not an astronomer, but rather a neuroscientist. I often feel ignored by the general public and even in church. On example:
In February 2020, I was allowed to speak to a group of retirees at church. I shared how dangerous the COVID-19 virus was and the fact that Trump had no idea what he was talking about! Boy, did I receive pushback! One woman came to me and said I shouldn’t be dissing the President because of the Office he holds. I apologized to her if she was offended, but not for what I shared because it was the truth. Years later, a friend shared with me that I scared many people. I shared with her that maybe they needed to be scared, and perhaps the pandemic would not have been so bad.
Best, Chris
The death of truth...
Yep. Welcome to my world...
Relevant to your comment about living in the dark, I'm re-reading Tish Harrison Warren's Prayer in the Night during Lent...
(I read it earlier this year, and wrote about it here:
https://theconversationallife.substack.com/p/keep-watch-dear-lord-with-us-in-this
but it is so timely and fitting for Lent that I'm re-reading it!!! )
Thank you for this wonderful sermon. I am crawling out of an awful depression, the worst in 46 years. I understood that one, I don’t yet understand this one other than the weather has been relentlessly grey. Often Lent and my S.A.D. are not aligned. So I’m out of step, but, I have been there.
I’m sorry to hear this, but I do hope you are finding your way out.
I am thank you. I have good support’s around me. I am also caregiver for my husband.
This was perfect timing for me and my husband. We are feeling the drag of the time, and giving too much energy over to that we argue against. We trust God and the "soundings of the Spirit."
I'm no theologian, but it seems to me that beginning with the imposition of ashes and remembering that we are dust and then Maundy Thursday's foot-washing are ways of preparing ourselves for self-reflection and preparation for action.
As I read today’s newsletter, I was reminded of a book I read many decades ago. Holden Caulfield is the main character in J. D. Salinger’s book, Catcher in the Rye (1951). He sees himself as being on the right side of the fight, and we sympathise with his temptation to fight fire with fire. At the end of his “hero’s journey,” he returns home to a gentle message from his kid sister that helps him see he’s on the verge of becoming what he hates.
“I have laboured carefully, not to mock, lament, or execrate, but to understand human actions.” —Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)
Thank you for this post and thanks to your pastor for an insightful message to lead us on our lenten journey. I am attending a church that unfortunately does not follow the liturgical calendar so I need to seek other sources for these important seasons.
Oh wow. Thank you thank you for this piece. It spoke directly to me in so many ways. Have printed out that sermon. I am so grateful for fellow travellers.
Beautiful thoughts. Such a poet, your pastor. I laughed at this one because I struggle with it so: "As we walk the perilous path between righteous anger and self-righteousness.
How do we not slip down the slope of self-righteousness?
Perhaps we shouldn’t run in the dark."
Me too, printing! Fantastic sermon. I may have to move up there and go to your church. Sigh. I lean contemplative, so I'm really digging into that time. I'm also reading a couple of older books I have that called my name this year, one is from the Sacred Space community in Ireland. Tiny book but always timely. You can also read them online. The other book is an old Karl Rahner from my shelf, Prayers For A Lifetime. It's nice to read books with fresh eyes. Lastly and totally unlike me, I'm doing a book study (heavy sigh-but egad I love her) Fleming Rutledge's book The Crucifixion. It's such a great book and long but it's a must read for anyone out there and she writes so beautifully and eloquently and geared for the lay reader.
Love it and when it came up, I had to say yes. Maybe this is my year to step out of my usual box. Apparently so...
I'm glad Lent is falling into place for you; you've shouldered a lot of weight these last few years!
With the barrage of disappointments from so many of my fellow evangelicals I find myself drawn to the memories of my youth in Catholicism. Lent was somber, but yet also somehow full of wonder. The smell of frankincense takes me back to the Easter Triduum services of Holy week, with their once a year rituals. Growing up, we lived only 3 blocks from church so it made for a nice evening walk if the April weather was good.
I find myself really drawn to wonder these days - and I'm happy to exchange the selfish certainty of conservative evangelicalism for it. Your pastor's observations on the ascent psalms fit very well here! The first time we climbed the steps of the Temple ruins in old Jerusalem was breath-taking (literally, because there are a LOT of steps). The stairs become more narrow as you ascend, such that you end up having to just wait there on the stairs as people funnel in. Wait, watch, smell, feel...
The song that stands out most in my memory is "Lord let me walk". The verse "Lord let me cool your lips baked like clay, dried up like rain on a hot dusty day" brings to mind kickball games after school on a dusty spring afternoon. As a kid you think about the heavy parts a bit, but not too much! As childhood memories of goodness and wonder flood back to me reading your post, I can't help but think how all children, all people really, deserve this - to experience goodness and wonder in God's world. How can we not put a priority on bringing it to them? My kids and your kids - but also Ukranian kids, immigrant kids... How can we not be drawn to do more?
Thanks for this great reflection and book recs!
Thank you for reminding me of the Easter Stories book - I bought a copy several years ago because our family loved the similar book of Christmas stories, and have never actually read it! Maybe this is the year to dip into it -- I could certainly use some shoring up this year. I am following the lent devotions in Seeking God's Face, Philip Reinders's book that is my default devotional.
Thank you for this. I think I need to join the 'printing it out' brigade. The part about not wallowing in worry but getting busy doing the work of the Spirit particularly resonates.
Thank you for sharing your pastor’s words. So appropriate at this time.