In today's reading from Deuteronomy and Luke I am reminded of how I ( wrongfully ) looked at religion as a child. It still affects how I and many others mark our Lenten Journey. Perhaps we could look to the Baltimore Catechism to see why I beleived God had a great tally book in which the all knowing God marked what things I had done wrong and what things I had done right.
The notions of either/or , black or white, good or bad and the way that plays out in our life and for today, our Lenten journey is very important. How we perceive ourselves and our journey in Lent and in our journey to wholeness are seen in these terms. We judge ourselves and others in these terms.
Isn't our life and faith more like a dance though? We move forward , we move back, we move around, we adventure, we discover, we learn, we grow. We also challenge ourselves, our thoughts; We discover that the world is not so black and white. Not only are there grays in God's created world but a spectrum of magnificent colors waiting to explode in our sights, in our lives. Our life activities and decision are not just black or white, good or bad.
How can we encourage more rainbows in our lives this Lent and less judgemental dualism?
I have come to beleive, quite ironically, that the answer to the dualism, polar vision and judgement that I once blamed on God is actually solved by faith in God. I am not talking about rules and rubrics of religion, that solves very little and can easily casue a lack of faith. God loves us as we are, as He/She created us and I believe God loves the dance. Our dance of life that goes backwards and forwards and dances all around. God's wish is to love us and that we love him. That is, God wants to engage us in a dance of love, a very personal dance of love.
God's dance of love is never black or white. Our Lenten journey is similar. It is not based on whether we give up a bar of chocolate or never say a swear word or put a coin a day in a little folded box. What matters is the dance. The movement towards and engagement with God.
Realize this, we are not perfect and we never will be. We will never measure up to some rule or ruler that tries to measure us in some finite way. God loves us though, completely, radically, passionately and just as we are. Our faith and journey to Him is what is loved and appreciated, not how many times we failed or succeeded.
So Lent becomes a journey, albeit perhaps an imperfect one, towards God and a real decision to make that journey. The question in my mind is to actually make that decision and make that journey with my eyes open and an intent to love and grow. That would be my definition of Lent for today.
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