WRITEON FOR FEBRUARY 26, 2020
sister alies.
Today is Ash Wednesday in many traditions. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras? Hope everyone ate lots of pancakes on Fat Tuesday and all are now willing and ready to fast, pray, and give alms for 40 days as we prepare for Easter? Bless your hearts.
Cold, sunny, rainy, floods, heart-aches, folks in hospital, folks sick at home, viruses, flues, war, politics...need anymore good news? Hahaha...well there's the story Joel Osteen told about two boys (9 & 8) who were into trouble no matter where they went. So mom decided to take them one at a time to the Pastor. The 9 year old went and sat in his chair. 'Where is God?' asked the pastor. No answer. So he repeated it...No answer...the pastor stood and the boy jumped out of the chair and ran for home, up the stairs into his brother's room shouting... “God is missing and they think we did it!!!”
Have you been accused of something you did not do? Have you done things no one knows about? How do we reconcile our faith and politics? How do we come to learn what that sacred path is really all about? What makes it possible to live a life of integrity? Many will easily say, oh, yes, I'm a sinner. Well, perhaps that's the way onto the sacred path? The discovery of sinfulness might just be the insight needed for the deeper discovery of a Savior?
We know that roses grow best with manure and ashes. What ashes are in my garden...my inner garden? How many times am I sure I'm right? What a silly question! Most of the time! How often am I preferring to serve myself and not others? A lot. Quick reactions against what is asked or said...bad language...you make your list. These may seem small against the backdrop of war, white collar crime, murder, and terrorism. I can see however, how similar they really are. Lent gives me another chance to meet the Savior and to learn at an ever deeper level how to live with integrity.
The answer, of course, to the question: Where is God? is simple...everywhere...and most deeply in my heart. That's where God most loves to be no matter what.
May whatever sort of preparation you make for Easter be blest...come out on the other side with an even deeper relationship where you know you are loved.
Don't forget to vote March 10!
BLESSINGS.
