week 5 lent readings, 2020

As a global pandemic quietly creeps among us, some are gripped with fear. Others are flippant, thankful they are not targeted by age or pre-existing health concerns.

Some are terrified they will lose their businesses if they keep paying employees, or panicked because they have no idea how they will pay for food or electricity next month. Others, income secure, just want to make sure they can get the items they need to make the dinner they crave.

We are all facing a threatening disease, but we are not experiencing it in the same way. Most of us, whether we feel safe or exposed, are consumed primarily with our unique experience.

I have to figure out how to work from home, so I cannot relate to suddenly losing my job.

I am low on toilet paper, so I cannot relate to feeling concerned that I can’t find Self Rising Flour.

I feel isolated and lonely, so I cannot relate to feeling exhausted by five Zoom meetings a day.

I have to do my job remotely and run my house, so I cannot relate to my sassy teenagers feeling overwhelmed by reading for an hour.

I feel restricted by being stuck at home, so I cannot relate to feeling terrified that my city is not taking steps to keep me alive.

The point is this: We all relate most to our own perspectives, but we now face an incredible chance to consider the perspectives of others. This week, raise your gaze to consider the moment from the eyes of another. Does your roommate need you to do the dishes or to offer to walk his dog? Do it. Does your neighbor need you to give her some toilet paper? Offer it. Does your child need to whine and complain about how unfair remote learning is? Hear him out. Does your health care providing friend need to spiral into panic about all the situations she cannot control? Hug her. Does your hourly wage earning friend need to vent about a business owner hanging him out to dry? Drop off dinner. Does your wealthy friend need to rage about the shrinking of her retirement fund? Listen to her fear.

Lent feels like a great time to think less of me. This is hard to do when my fears, sense of injustice, scarcity, uncertain future, and constant disruption keep me in my head, obsessed with my own hard life.

Look not only to your own interests, but in humility, think of others.

We have a sacred opportunity before us to consider others before ourselves. The Beloved Community, the community God established through Christ, is built on such consideration. This week, begin the practice of considering a moment through the eyes of another. Then, with incredible patience and compassion, act in a way that honors the person whose perspective you do not share. Be kind. Be mindful. Be considerate.

Week 5  To Ponder:

“The kind of peace shalom represents is active and engaged…Shalom is communal, holistic and tangible.  There is no private or partial shalom.  The whole community must have shalom or no one has shalom…Shalom is not for the many, while a few suffer; nor is it for the few while many suffer.”           -Randy Woodley

“We never get to the bottom of ourselves on our own. We discover who we are face-to-face and side-by-side with others in work, love and learning.”                  -Robert Bellah

To Read:

Mar 25 Ps 101:1-6; 119:9-20

Mar 26 Micah 4:6-7; Luke 6:20-27

Mar 27 Ps 22:1-11; 24-31

Mar 28 Prov 3:1-12

Mar 29 Matthew 5:1-12

Mar 30 Song of Sol 8:6-7; Isaiah 41:3-13

Mar 31 Ps 116:1-9; Ps 127:1-2