Lent. The Beginning.

It's that time of year again, folks. In the past it's always been that time for me when everyone around me seems to be endlessly complaining about what they've given up and how much it bites that they don't have it. I grew up in the Lutheran Church and let me tell you, lent is a pretty big deal to Lutherans. So maybe that is why I have never been on board for the whole thing, as an act of defiance to a world I wanted no part of. I felt the 40 (or 46 as I have recently discovered) days was 40 days of opportunity for Christians to draw attention upon themselves and their so called sacrifices. This is one of the most frustrating and unfortunate effects of Christianity turned religion. The people who endlessly talk about what they have "given up for the Lord" but really were just trying to get a leg up on the other "not so holy Christians" disheartened me and for those reasons I had never once bought into fasting for lent. This was how I thought anyway. But I realize this isn't what lent is about at all. And the deeper I read into it, the more I like the idea of it.

To be completely honest, lent has always reminded me and seemed to highlight the types of people who call themselves Christians because they tithe a certain amount or have a really nice crucifix. The ones who would love to get into heaven by works. That is the type of so called Christianity I never want to be a part of. I'm not interested in doing this thing called following Jesus only when I feel like it is going to benefit me socially or because it seems cool. No thanks. This attitude has more than once led me to shut off the customs of the traditional church. Over the years, as I have tried to rebel completely from "traditional church," I have come to realize some of the most traditional customs of the church offer some of the greatest opportunity to become close with a very real and close God. And now I find myself wishing more people better understood these traditions and what they mean and how important they can be. I judged the traditions of the church too harshly.

That brings me to lent. Yes, a lot if so called Christians will do it simply out of tradition and without any heart or thought into the role it plays in communion with Christ. That, however, is no longer going to stop me from observing and understanding the most important event in Christianity. I want to take this seriously. I want to understand and to do this thing right. Afterall, this is God we are talking about, it doesn't ever get more important than that. Christ died for you. for me. We have heard that so so many times. And I feel we seldom understand it, seldom grasp it. I want to grasp this.

So, dear friend Lent, I am formally apologizing for never making an effort before this year. I'll try extraordinarily hard this time.

Pro/Con Lists.

Seattle Pacific or Baylor? Only God knows. And that's totally fine.

I'm a big fan of pro/con lists. Mostly because I hate indecision and the beauty of pro/con lists is that they completely get rid of that. Right now I feel like I have to make the biggest decision of my life so far. College. As a senior, you get used to hearing that word about 28 times a day. I feel the closer I get to graduating, the more I don't know where I'm going, what I'm going to study, or how life is going to go. Despite all this indecision, I am completely at ease with things. And if you know anything about me you know this is a big deal for me. My whole walk with Christ, the big conflict has been that I can't accept that He has everything under control. I mean in the past I fought and argued and literally screamed at God about everything in my life that seemed out of control or even remotely indecisive. And then this year happens. Now more than ever, nothing has been in control, nothing has gone as I have expected or as it seems, and I couldn't be more content. Jesus knows what He's doing; I don't have to know the details. For the first time ever, I am totally cool with God being in control. I always wanted him to be but I couldn't even begin to let him until I let everything get out of my control. This is going to be a good trip now that I'm not trying to drive anymore.

Action.

"Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor."
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."
-Isaiah 55.

What I love so much about this passage is that its full of calls for action. It asks us to come and be filled with Christ then to go out and live a life that shows that. And then, then it gets really beautiful. It tells us of what will happen, what actions will take place when we do this. Nature dances. Nature and creation are filled with life and so as followers of Christ, it is up to us to move into action. to move and physically take action. Isn't this what we are absolutely called to do? to move? How is God supposed to move in us, through us, if we aren't willing to take some action?