Driven Out

I appreciate Sarah Parsons' thought that we don't have to want to go into the wilderness...we just have to "open [ourselves] to the possibility that some chaos, some wild energy, lives within [us], and God will show [us] how to find it." (p. 18)

It is when I'm pushed out of my comfort zone that I discover new things about myself, some welcome, some that are not so welcome. But then I have the opportunity to grow, and learn to trust God more with my life. I can't say that I'm always good at trusting God with these things though. Maybe Lent is a good thing for me, like it or not. Where are the places you are being pushed out of your comfort zone?

Brian

Forty Days (continued)

Yes, I know now that my reflection just before this was supposed to be on Driven Out. It must have been this nasty cold/respiratory infection I'm dealing with. Enough about that. I'll get to Driven Out tomorrow. Back to Forty Days, continued. I've often wondered what it would be like if, like the early church, we expected persons coming to Christian faith for the first time or renewing their Christian faith to spend 40 days in preparation. With ways in which the congregation could affirm them. With a spiritual friend to walk beside them. I know it wouldn't be convenient in our fast world, but I wonder if people are looking for more than convenience. "Deep calls to deep," the psalmist says. Think about the people you know. How might they respond? And what is the most faith-filled response we can make so that the church can be the church? I'd love to know what you think.... Brian

Forty Days

Forty days as "in-between time." Kind of like time spent on a plane. I'll be flying to Israel/Palestine March 14, spending about 12 hours in the air. There will be plenty of time to think, to reflect. What would you think about?

One of the things I've been thinking about this Ash Wednesday as I write this is a story that Centennial member Joe Ling, who died last week, told one of his proteges (I hope I can get it close to being right). A new graduate was about to try his wings in the world with his first job in his chosen field. He went to his mentor/professor for advice.

"I will only give you three words now," the mentor said, "and then I'll give you three words later. Come back for them only when you really need them. But for now, the three words I'll give you are these: 'Don't be afraid.'"

The new graduate took heart. Seasons came and seasons went, and he encountered some real rough patches in life. He decided that the time had finally come to seek out the other three words of advice. He went back to the home of his mentor, and found that his mentor had died. His widow, however, welcomed him inside and said, "My husband left an envelope for you. Let me find it." She found it and gave it to him. He opened it, and inside was a piece of paper with just three words: "Don't be regretful."

Lent. Forty days to leave our regrets, our baggage, behind. Forty days to claim, by faith, our freedom and forgiveness in Christ.

Brian

Exploring the wilderness

Rats and woodpeckers.
These are the "wild beasts" of my wilderness that I'm challenged to befriend.
As I read the beginning of chapter one this morning, the image of Woody the Woodpecker - a cartoon character that I loved as a child - came to mind. In my wilderness, Woody pecks away at me. There's no hunter with an ax or chainsaw that's come to cut me down, but rather it's like the workings of a small bird pecking away at small things - the comments here and there that run the risk of slowly chipping away at my sense of self.
At a recent retreat I was at, singer/songwriter Barbara McAfee led us in a song about "brain rats". Brain rats run around inside your head, making you doubt yourself, worry needlessly, and beat yourself up for being less than perfect. There are days when I have rats in the brain.
The wild beasts in my wilderness - the woodpeckers attack from the outside, the rats from the inside. Befriending them is an intriguing idea. And so that is what each of us sets out to do. Jesus in the wilderness for forty days - we in our lenten journey for forty days. As Sarah says, "Let's get to know it!". What does your wilderness look like? Where do you go to get away from the demands of the world?
- Melanie

It's time to get started!!!

I'm posting all of the info you will hopefully need to get started with our study - the first reflection will be posted tomorrow morning!

Instructions:
1. We will be reading one chapter of the book A Clearing Season a week. The book is out of stock right now, but will be coming in by mid-March. Photocopies of the first two weeks of readings are available to be picked up in the church office. (Upper Room has granted permission for this). Each chapter has six subsections – we will read and reflect on one subsection each day, taking Sundays off.
2. If you are reading this, you have already found the blog, which is success - yeah!
3. Check out the daily reflections posted by the clergy. To add your own comments and insights, click on “comments” and type your reflections under “leave your comments”. Scroll down the page - You do not need to register as a user to do this. Click on “Other” and add your name so we know whose thoughts we are reading. Continue to scroll down the page - You will need to retype the letters and numbers you see under word verification. This is to keep spam to a minimum. Then click on “Publish Your Comments”.
4. Your comments will not post immediately – they will first be approved by the clergy as part of our process to ensure that inappropriate and unsolicited emails are not posted on the site.
5. Please email Melanie at mhoman@centennialumc.org if you have any questions or have problems getting started.
6. Blessings on your Lenten Journey – may this be a fruitful time for us all!