From the Pastor

Time for Lent

March 2009

Pastor Dave This past month much was written and spoken through out the media on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. In reading the articles and listening to the historians recount his words and deeds one quote caught my attention and fixed itself in my mind.

Apparently, Lincoln suffered bouts of severe depression and at one point had retreated into himself to such a degree that friends feared he would do himself in. They found Lincoln and confronted him with their fears. His response went something like this: While I did feel so badly that I might as well die, I concluded that I must not end my life as I had not yet done something good for the world for which I might be remembered (a paraphrase).

Lincoln came to a precipice in his life that could easily have caused his death. Many of us come to similar if less dramatic points, and we back away frustrated. We may resolve to do something special or begin new habits, but after the moments of danger have passed, we usually don’t do much to change. We retreat without renewal.

Lincoln’s great accomplishments are the stuff of legend, but ours tend to be smaller and much more private or never take place at all. We tend to live with our frustrations as though they were the price of being alive. But such a price keeps us debtors to our failings and our lack of faith.

The season of Lent, often seen as a dour time of self-examination, was for Jesus a time of walking the edge of the precipice and pondering what life would be like if he simply walked away from the cross. This hardly seems dour to me. Intense, yes. Serious, absolutely. But sullen and resigned? No. For Jesus, the season of Lent is the unfolding of purpose that must finally come from our frustrations over injustice, loss, and pain.

Lent is a time to call out beyond the boundaries of our fears to the ears of God. It’s called prayer.

Lent is a time to walk away from the things that keep us ashamed and instead walk toward the things that enrich our souls. It’s called discipline.

Lent is a time to forgive everyone who has ever harmed us of everything they every did to us. This is called taking Grace seriously enough to practice it on yourself as well as others.

Lent is a time to search for that one good thing you must do for the sake of another, and then do it without expecting to be thanked. It’s called love for the sake of love.

History is relieved at Lincoln’s resolve to remain in the world to do some good thing. The season of Lent is given to us as a reminder that Jesus has died so you and I don’t have to. We are left behind to do the next good thing. Permission has been granted. And even if no one else notices what you’ve done, He will remember you.

Pastor Dave

Privacy Policy | Webmaster | Contact Us

ELCA