Lent has always been a big deal to me.
I grew up Presbyterian. I spent 20+ years in parish ministry. And, I tend to appreciate anything that inspires more focused action in life or in the life of faith.
Lenten Reflections: The Last 10 Years
Not surprisingly, I’ve written quite a bit about Lent here at So What Faith over the years. A sampling from odd numbered years follows:
- 2011 – Social Media: Fast or Engage? – consideration of a then current article and interview with Bruce Reyes-Chow on the topic
- 2013 – Lenten Carbon Fast – an invitation to use less carbon during Lent
- 2015 – Sermon: Our Lenten Creed – call to consider the Jesus Creed or Greatest Commandment as a unifying creed and to commit to reciting it during Lent
- 2017 – A Lenten Call to Action – reflection on the typical approach of giving up or adding on something for Lent
- 2019 – Lenten Demolition – asking the question what needs to be demolished in your life in order for you to fully commit to following the Way of Jesus
- 2021 – Giving Up the Church I Always Knew – a series of posts that included: giving up (1) Mainline Protestantism, (2) Worship in Indoor Sacred Spaces, (3) The Output Oriented Church, (4) The Tech Averse Church, and (5) The Old and White Church
Lenten Journey: 2022
This year, I’ve chosen to focus on doing something. The something is investing more of myself in growing existing relationships and creating new ones.
The human experience is designed to be highly relational. Busy schedules, long commutes, and a tendency to repeat past patterns of behavior all stand in the way of maximizing opportunities to nourish existing relationships or generate new ones.
I’ve deployed a number of tactics, but even more importantly I’ve committed to investing considerable time and energy. So far, one of the more meaningful experiences has been hosting and leading a small group through Cathedral of Hope. Those participating in the small group agreed to try something new for Lent by joining a group comprised of people with little or no prior relational interaction with one another. Not only are we building new relationships with each other, we are also deepening our relationships with God through a shared study of Kristen Vincent’s book We Are Beloved (Upper Room Books, 2019).
So What?
There is no wrong way to travel the Lenten journey. After not being comfortable hosting or even participating in a multi-session in-person small group experience for the last few years due to pandemic protocols, it has been especially powerful to gather together in this manner in recent weeks.
I’d welcome hearing more about how your Lenten experience has evolved as a result of the pandemic and/or changes in your own faith journey. What have you found to be particularly meaningful this year?