Devotion for February 22

Now during those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray; and he spend the night in prayer to God.  Luke 6:12

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. Lent is comprised of 40 days – Sundays excluded because they are always an Easter celebration. The intent of Lent is to call us into a closer walk with our Lord Jesus Christ. Historically, that has been emphasized through spiritual disciplines – especially giving up something that we value. I have, for example, given up coffee and breads for Lent. I once gave up chocolate – but my wife rightly told me that didn’t count since I don’t like chocolate anyway! The point is that, as we sacrifice something we enjoy, we more closely identify with the sacrifice of our Lord.

Recently, there has been a change for many of us in the spiritual disciplines of Lent. Instead of giving up something, many of us now choose to take on an added effort. For some it is prayer; for others it is Christian service; still for others it is the effort of exercising daily charity – beginning with those closest to us.

This Lent I am going to daily treasure my family, my friends, my church and, especially, my God. I think that, if you are like me, life can become so filled with concerns and challenges that simple expressions of love and appreciation for those around us gets lost. Yet, Jesus took time on the way to Jerusalem – the way to the Cross – to heal a blind man and have supper with a tax collector. He spoke to his disciples of his love in the most grief-charged moment of his last days – the Passover. The moments of simple kindness were not lost to him. This Lenten season, I want to go out of my way to create simple moments of appreciation and love.

Not much of a discipline, you say? I suspect it will be harder than even I imagine.

Devotion for February 1

…for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

I returned from Florida to learn that two young men from a local Middle School had taken their own lives. Upon hearing that news my heart sank. First I wondered why no one had seen or heard anything that had indicated these two seemingly well-liked and capable young men were preparing to take their lives. Then I grieved for their parents, families and friends. I couldn’t help but think of all the potential these two young people had squandered. Of course, they were in no position to know that, but I couldn’t help but wonder why no one had told them. Suicide is the final answer to our personal and relational issues from which there is no return. I wish someone had communicated that to them.

I think we in the Church need to do that. I love what St. Paul says in this portion of the pastoral letter we call 2 Timothy. Our calling is not to be timid but to exercise the Spirit of power and love with discipline.

Recently a grandmother came into our offices and tried to get our Minister to Youth and Young Adults to give in on some of the expectations of our Confirmation program. I’m afraid, in the name of love, I told our staff member that we’d stand firm until that young person was willing to come and visit with me personally. Here is a young person who may be receiving mixed messages from those who love them. On the one hand, they honestly care about them. On the other hand, they are not expecting any self-discipline in this regard. I’m worried that the young person’s inner turmoil is not being directed by faith and curbed by self-discipline. Self-discipline is never something we choose for ourselves. It is the result of clear expectations, learned over time and, finally, integrated into our decision process.

Let me be clear: I have no indication that this young person is suicidal. But I worry that he/she will learn to make excuses instead of deal with the harsh issues and expectations of life. St. Paul expects Timothy, his son in the faith, to know the power that is his, the love that supports him and bring them together in self-discipline. Not a bad formula for keeping hope alive and facing down the demon of depression.