Questions
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Special to United Methodist Insight
It has been said that "a Lenten sacrifice is a spiritually motivated voluntary renunciation of a pleasure or luxury that most Christians give up for the observance of Lent." Considering the sacrifice that Christ made, the idea of giving up something that brings pleasure could be a major challenge for someone who receives great joy through being negative and who may even be happier when making someone else miserable or catching someone in error.
We read Romans 8:38; "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love." Romans 8:38 (New Living Translation) and yet seem to seek great pleasure in labeling and separating from our fellow astronauts on Spaceship Earth. showing anything but love! The question must be asked; how is God's unconditional love being shown by polarization, division, name-calling, endless 'investigations' that serve as platforms to get attention and accomplish nothing in the way of edification? To me, the lack of stewardship of God's gifts is appalling as the efforts constantly are put in place to catch someone doing something that may personally and selfishly be deemed unacceptable.
"Nothing can separate us from God's love" and yet so often pleasure seems to be derived by God's precious children in creating division from others based on man-made agendas which are trivial in the overall scheme of life.
"I can only imagine" the calmness and peace of 40 days without anger, without hatred, without judgment, without conduct befitting a preschool playground, and having it replaced with a Lenten season of "showing each other Christ!" The challenge for Lent is in place, and brings the opportunity to engage in deliberate self-assessment of how to follow the Golden Rule. The opportunity for an alteration in pleasure is in place.
Will you join with me and make a Lenten sacrifice to try to be less judgmental, less strident, less negative and more tolerant and loving of anyone who may perceive life in a different way?
Wil Meikeljohn is a certified lay minister in the Mountain Sky Annual Conference.