Christians around the globe have entered the reflective season of Lent, the period of 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading to Easter. The Lenten season invites us to slow down and journey with Jesus toward his cross. More, it invites us to ponder the mystery that the Christian way is a way of death and resurrection. "I have been crucified with Christ," wrote the Apostle Paul, "nevertheless I live. Yet it is not I, but Christ who lives in me."
Many people want to ask, "What are you giving up for Lent this year?" That's not a bad question, but I'd like to pose a different one. What are you taking up during Lent this year? What meaningful, important, faithful practice--perhaps something that you have taken up in the past, but has gotten pressed out along the way--will you take up during Lent this year?
Here's my answer: A few years ago I became very interested in a strategy and methodology for working with many of the world's poor called 'micro-finance.' Micro-Finance is a way of providing low-interest loans to help men and women start small businesses to support themselves and their families. Millions around the globe have been empowered by means of micro-finance. Initially, I read a great deal about micro-finance , even introduced a micro-finance project in conjunction with Horizon International to our congregation . At one point, I began to research micro-finance projects that are being done in the US--and whether or not it would be possible to introduce it here (where jobs are badly needed!) in Central Michigan. Alas, I allowed my interest in micro-finance to be pushed to the edge. So, for Lent, I'm picking it up again. I'll be researching (mostly on the web) what's been happening with micro-finance around the globe, as well as the possibilities for using it here at home.
That's what I'm taking up during Lent. What about you?
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Becky and I received a call this evening by accident. It was from very good friends who have been known as grand parents to our children all their lives. They have been affectionately known as Grandpa Dale and Grandma Sandy for years. They were there for us as children were born and in the early years of their life. They adopted us, they embraced us and made us feel loved, being lonely and distant from our blood family. They are aging. He has had a stroke and she has Alzheimer’s. He meant to call his daughter and accidentally called us. For the past few days they have been on my mind and I have said we need to try and make a visit to Ohio to see these dear people. They had been on my mind in a stronger than usual way and we receive an accidental call due to human error. All a coincident? Now I’m not one to read into every event some divinely orchestrated purpose but this call got my attention. I have been thinking about Lent. Steve’s post has had me thinking about what I might take up. I like this years twist from the usual giving up which characterizes Lent, although that has its place also. Starting this evening one thing I’m going to take up is a grateful memory. You might ask a grateful memory for what? For the people I should never forget or take for granted even with the passing of time. For the people who have made all the difference and made this world a different place, a place of welcome.
The other thing I’m going to take up is to continue my journey through two books by Nadezhda Mandelstam, Hope Against Hope and Hope Abandoned. She was the widow of the famous Russian poet Osip Mandelstam who was put to death by Stalin for criticizing him in a poem. As a means of protest Nadezhdah committed all of her husband’s poems to memory (a considerable undertaking), which were later smuggled out of Russia and published. She had a very stressful existence after his death moving from place to place to stay alive. This is a powerful story about the struggle for life in the worst of conditions. It is real life reduced to the essentials. Lent has had a powerful start for me this year.
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