Lenten Practices, intro

This Lent, I’ll be writing a six-part series entitled, “Lenten Practices.” Lent is my favorite season of the Christian year. I look forward to Lent ever year. As the days grow closer, a sense of expectation fills my spirit. It’s not as strange as it sounds (Granted, I often sound strange, especially when practicing for my annual Lenten yodeling concert). I’m a fan and observer of Lent because of the season’s powerful potential to be used by God to transform your life and mine. How can it do that? 

Because Lent is a time where many Christians engage in some sort of intentional spiritual practice. For many there is still the idea that “I should do something for Lent” whether that’s “giving something up” or “taking something on” (I recommend both). The word Lent comes from the Old English word, lencten, which means, spring. Lent is meant to be a spring time for your soul. A time of growth and new life. It has been referred to as a period of spring cleaning. It might also be thought of as a period of spring training.

Many sports teams get back into the “swing” of things during the spring. If you’ve been off the field for a few months, the initial weeks of spring training can be tough. This is often true of our observance of Lent, too. But by God’s grace, we keep at it despite our slips, falls, and fouls. It’s a shame many congregations and Christians don’t take advantage of the potential of Lent (or host Lenten yodeling concerts). To benefit from this traditional season of reflection, repentance, and renewal you need to do a little planning. Plan now for how you will observe Lent. (Yodel here).  

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Sabbath

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of Sabbath. This has its origins in the Old Testament “Where God rested on the seventh day” (Genesis 2:2-3, NRSV). This became one of the defining marks of faith in the one God, the keeping of this seventh day of rest, “Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath…you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:8-10). That’s found in that top ten list, remember? 

Sunday became the Sabbath (versus Saturday) for Christians. Some of you will recall or recall relatives reminiscing about a time when, in North American anyway, things shut down on Sunday as a way of honoring the importance of Sabbath and communal worship. For the most part, that time is over; which means, it is even more important that we create times for Sabbath in our homes and our lives. If you don’t, the world will gladly eat up all your time with its noise, with its screens, and with its endless offerings and demands (Netflix anyone…). 

Sabbath is about rest and renewal. Sabbath is about creating space to be restored in one’s relationship with God, with others, and with all of creation. It is a time for joy. It’s a time for respite. It is a time for re-creating the life of God in you. The old meaning behind our word, recreation. It is a time for making expensive gifts to your pastor (Just making sure you were reading carefully). Sitting in front of a screen and being numbly entertained may be a welcome way of winding down, but does it restore us? Does it bring you together with those you love? 

It might, but it might also be a convenient way to ignore the real issues in our homes, hearts, and relationships (including with God). Yes, to a movie night, but what about a weekly unplugged night? No screens. Just people. Just a book. Just a walk. You could have a daily hour of reading where all in the home read. Resurrecting Sunday night family dinners is also a way of practicing Sabbath (as our date nights for couples). Maybe Sundays (after worship) you dedicate to family and friends. How are you doing with this or how might you begin? 

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Prayer

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of prayer. A trait that should mark a “Christian home” is a home that is marked by regular prayer. Prayer is one of the chief means by which we pursue our relationship with God. Prayer is one of the chief means, perhaps the most fruitful and faithful, of inviting God into the nooks and crannies of our hurts and joys, pleasures and annoyances (Praying in traffic comes to mine). Prayer isn’t meant to be a pause from life, but part of life. 

Faithful discipleship involves the cultivation of faithful habits. We are creatures accustomed to and stubbornly inclined toward habituation. Creating routines of prayer in the home can help open ourselves to the often hidden, sometimes surprising, sparks of the Holy Spirit. One way of doing this is by praying in regular spots on a regular basis. Praying grace at meals or at least one meal, is a way of doing this. It’s also an easy way to start. Another is when you get up in the morning and when you go to sleep at night (or can’t sleep at night). 

After all, many people when trying to get up in the morning or prior to sleeping at night invoke the Lord’s name. (Often vigorously!). Expand it into a regular prayer. The great teachers of the spiritual life across the Christian Tradition recommend a daily time of prayer. For most people, this is probably best done at home. Maybe you have a prayer chair or family altar where you can have your “quiet time” with the Lord. It need not be long, being consistent for two minutes a day is better than occasionally praying for twenty minutes but then not again for a week. 

If you are praying with others, like a significant other, roommates, or the terrors of cuteness that we call children, you will need to adapt your prayer to what works for all. This may mean shorter and simpler types of prayer. That’s fine. Some families have a custom of Bible reading and prayer (“family devotions”) once a week or briefly at night, including some households that pray some form of the Daily Office or Compline. A home marked by prayer is a home opening itself to the love of God. How are you doing with this or how might you begin?

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Reminder

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of reminder. “Out of sight, out of mind” is well-worn aphorism, because of its veracity. In our screen infested age, we might also say, “Screen in sight, no sight of mind.” This is due to the screen’s phenomenal power to capture our mind’s attention, obliterating the world around us. The practice of reminder is all about reminding ourselves of the reality of God and the reality of our commitment to the God of love revealed in Jesus Christ. 

This is more than simply a reminder, such as a post it-note on the refrigerator door or stapled to the dog’s tail (I apologize, the Cat Lovers of Canada requested I include that line). This is a symbolic reminder. We are symbol hungry and symbol making creatures. Nobody needs to tell us this. Nobody needs to tell people to decorate their homes with items that reflect who they are and what they value. Family pictures, movie posters, and so on. Yet, I ask, are there any symbols of the faith displayed in your home? (Red Sox pennants don’t count, close, but no!)

There is a long tradition of Eastern Christians displaying icons in their home, sometimes called an icon wall. In the West, there is the long and wonderful custom of a family altar. A small altar or devotional space that includes saints’ pictures, prayers, and is often changed to reflect the season of the Church year. In more Protestant circles, a prominently displayed family Bible and sometimes also, Bible verses. Among Anglican Christians, a visible Book of Common Prayer. Among Lutherans, a displayed casserole (Yes, that was joke. I prefer Lutefisk, anyway.)

It is not necessary to have a full chapel in your home (though some people have these, really), but it is wise to have some holy reminders, some symbols of the faith, to remind you of your Christian faith. In fact, the idea is for them to be less churchy and more-homey or less gathered church and more domestic church. Let it reflect your personality and any others in your household. Be as creative as you like. There are lots of resources out there. Start small. How are you doing with this or how might you begin?

Spiritual Practices at Home, intro

This Advent, I’ll be writing a three-part blog series, “Spiritual Practices at Home.” Advent is a wonderful season of the Church year for home observance with its Advent wreaths, calendars, and more. But here is the big secret…all the seasons of the Christian year are wonderful for home observance! Growth in discipleship, the pursuit of spirituality maturity, is an adventure of integrating faith in Christ with every aspect of our lives. Our homes, whether a humble room or grand house, influence us immensely and usually reflect ourselves in ways flattering and not so flattering (Really, it’s time to take down that M.C. Hammer poster.) 

Bringing your faith to bear visibly in the most intimate spaces of your life is an important step forward in the journey of Christian discipleship. Home observance of the faith is for all Christians. Certainly, there are practices that lend themselves to family life (in all the wonderful and weary forms it can take), but whether by yourself, with roommates, your significant other, your animal friend, or a house full of small people, the riches of our Christian heritage for daily life are immense. 

When observed faithfully, not perfectly, not dramatically, but regularly, over the months and years, they can serve as quiet shapers of our souls and steady channels of God’s grace, transforming us day by day into people of greater Spirit and Love. Are there particular aspects of home practice you are hoping I explore? (Perhaps the exorcism of that space filled with stuff you haven’t looked at in years?) Do you have recommendations or suggestions to make? They are always most welcome. Please share them as move through the series. 

In the World, Not of the World

This is a reflection and place for dialogue on my sermon (click here to listen) and related themes from the seventh Sunday of Easter, on the Gospel text from St. John 17:6-19. 

The relationship between Christians and the wider world has been a complicated one. Should Christians separate themselves from the world to maintain a purer form of Christian life and practice? Or should Christians throw themselves into the world to maintain a Christian life and practice that transforms the world? Within the history of Christianity and even on the contemporary scene both answers have found significant hearing and emulation. Often, not always, Christian congregations, traditions, and individual who lean one way on this spectrum find themselves in tension with those on the other end. This could be understood as another manifestation of the perennial clash of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Martha is helping to prepare the meal and busy meeting practical needs. Mary is sitting as a disciple, listening to her teacher.  

The problem with pitting contemplation/prayer/separation from the world against activity/practical help/engagement with the world is that conflict finds no justification in the life of Jesus Himself. Jesus’ life was a continual flow from quiet time withdrawal with His Father to active life and ministry among people. One could say that Jesus’ model of “being in the world but not of the world” was to abide in His loving relationship with God while abounding in loving acts with people. This basic pattern should be the paradigm for the Church and for Christians more generally. Further, there are dangers to emphasizing one pattern to the exclusion of the other. The contemplative path runs the danger of isolation or quietism. The active path runs the dangers of burn out, rootlessness, and activity for the sake of activity. In the history of the Church there have been individuals who have given themselves exclusively to these paths.

Those individuals and communities (e.g. monastic) that have committed themselves largely to the contemplative path have been a source of great blessing to the Church and the world. In the same way, those individuals and communities that have committed themselves to the active path have been a source of great blessing to the Church and the world. Historically, there has also been something called the “mixed life” which seeks to embrace both elements, much as our Lord did. It might be argued that most individuals are called to the active path (which requires Sabbath, prayer, and rest for it endure) with the mixed path and contemplative path compromising smaller groups. If this is true, that means the Church will need to give attention to supporting the active life, while also lifting the importance of the contemplative life in a frantic world that might otherwise be unaware of it. 

What did you hear in the sermon, in the text, or this reflection? What would you challenge, what would you add? What are you still wondering about?  

The Fool's Easter

This year has featured two unusual alignments between the Christian calendar and the secular calendar. The first was the coming together of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday on February 14 (click here for a reflection). The second is the coming together of April Fool’s Day and Easter Sunday on April 1. This will, no doubt, be great fodder for critics of faith in general and Christianity in particular. “April Fool’s, this stuff isn’t for real!” Of course, the Christian can easily retort to the atheist, “April’s Fool’s, this stuff is for real!” These sorts of jokes and jabs aside, what insight can be gleaned by bringing together a whimsical, secular, holiday, with the most important feast day of the Christian year? Let’s first touch base on the meaning of each observance on its own merits.

April Fool’s Day is an annual invitation to joke, prank, and pull one over on someone. Unusual newspaper articles, frightening friends with shocking, but old-fashioned fake news, and so on, often characterize the largely innocent quality of this holiday. Of course, it’s not really a holiday. No one gets April Fool’s Day off. Wait! I just received notice that as of 2018 April Fool’s Day will be a federal holiday in the United States and Canada. Yeah. Long weekend! Party time. Celebration. Oh wait…April Fools! This observance, while seemingly silly and light-hearted, has not gone without its controversies. Critics of April’s Fools, and specifically of the sometime elaborate hoaxes that individuals or organizations put on, decry the waste of resources and the confusion that ensues from such pranks.

Easter Sunday is the most important day of the Christian calendar. It is sometimes also referred to as Resurrection Sunday. Both names are proper, the first by long custom (ancient connotations aside) and the second being the event the holiday celebrates. Easter Sunday is a national holiday in many countries with a Christian cultural heritage. For many, Easter is more about family and candy that it is about the resurrection of a 1^st century Jewish Messiah. For the Christian, Easter is the high point of the Christian story and speaks of Christ’s victory over the difficulties and mysterious of sin and death. Christ’s resurrection validates His status as the long expected one and validates His teachings as worthy of reception. Christ is the example of what will take place to all who put their trust in Him. 

What happens when you put these together? You get the dangerous invitation to Easter as merely a sentimental occasion with pretty flowers, fine hats, and in a few places, fuller churches. Pretty flowers, fine hats, and fuller church are all fine and well. But, if Christians merely gather to smile and nod at a story they believe to be some sweet sentimental yarn of a nice man overcoming bad things so that we can be non-dangerously nice to each other, then we will have missed the message of Easter (for more on that click here) and settled for foolishness. The joke will be on us. We will have pranked ourselves. Because Easter rolls away the stone and shows us that the worst of misguided humanity, in its doing the worst, to a singular shinning life, does not have the last word. This is not foolishness. This is astonishing and for over twenty centuries has turned the wisdom of the worldly wise into spiritual tomfoolery. Don’t be fooled. Christ is Risen!