A Good Disciple

One quiet afternoon, as I find myself staring in his direction, kind of mesmerized, (as always happens), Jesus asks me flat out, “What are you looking for?"           
Startled, out of my contemplative fervor, I reply, “Who me?”

“Yes, you, silly. Who else is here?” (He's such a tease.)

“Right! Of course,” I say, feeling a little awkward. (Mind you, Jesus tends to stare right through to one's soul – I’m pretty sure he sees last night’s dinner digesting in my belly.)

“What are you looking for?” he asks again, a little more forcibly this time.

(Wow - intense. What am I looking for? I was just looking at him.) 

Jesus can be relentless. “What are you looking for?”

“I don’t know,” I confess. “I want to know, but I don’t know. You know? Can you help?”

“I can do that. Now that you ask.” He laughs. (I love his laugh.)

(I look back at him – looking at me, waiting. He says nothing. Not a single flipping word! Entire centuries pass. Finally, I cannot stand it.)

I say, “I see what you’re doing,” 

“Good,” he replies. "That’s the point.”

“What’s the point?” I ask, in all sincerity. 

“Exactly,” Jesus says with a grin.

(I make a very good disciple.)

Spiritual Practice: Read John 1:29–42. Take a few deep, slow breaths and ask, "What am I currently looking for?" Enter into an honest conversation with Jesus. Be open to whatever arises. Perhaps write about it in your journal.

Geese appear high over us, 
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, 
as in love or sleep, holds 
them to their way, clear 
in the ancient faith: what we need 
is here. And we pray, not 
for new earth or heaven, but to be 
quiet in heart, and in eye, 
clear. What we need is here.

 ~~Wendell Barry

                        💛

Intention Setting in Lent

 Intention setting is an important part of Lent. It’s the intention we make that initiates the GPS for our journey. When we plug in an address, we are presented with a route. We can mindfully travel toward our destination by following the directions we are given as we go. Sometimes we are met with an obstacle, a tree down across the road if you will. Thanks to updated technology our intelligent GPS system reroutes us. Therefore, paying attention is crucial, lest we miss a turn.

You will want to choose your intention with care and then pay close attention. If you give up chocolate because it is a distraction, then notice daily what arises as you gradually learn to do without. You could choose another intention, adding a contemplative practice, for example.

Deprivation is never God’s intention for our lives. Rather, it is lavish, unconditional love. Everything is there for the enhancement of our spiritual journey. 

Everything. 

Lent is not for the faint-hearted

Lent is not for the faint-hearted.
It demands that we, like Thomas,
put our hand into the side of the crucified Christ.

Lent is a journey towards the cross, a journey of enlightenment:
from wilderness to feast,
from desert to oasis.

It’s an attempt to identify with the powerless and the suffering in the world.

Lent is not tidy.
The days grow longer,*
the ground thaws, there’s mud and dirt everywhere and the windows need cleaning.

Lent is a journey.
So at the end of Lent
we should expect to find ourselves somewhere different from where we started.

Lent can be an opportunity
to explore what is the nature
of the promised Kingdom of God on earth that we long for;
a time to discern
how we are called to work for it.

No, Lent is not for the faint-hearted!

~~Kate McIlhagga

*‘Lent’ means lengthen.

💛With Love in Lent,

Connie