Second Saturday - Day Ten

Discipline is Commitment
The hardest time to keep up the daily discipline is at the end of a long and tiring day at the end of a long and tiring week. In the first week of this Lenten blog I was surprised to see where the reflections took me - namely on a series of insights and learnings on the subject of discipline. I felt that this second week was a departure from the intent and mood of those first days. However, this evening when there is yet another replay of today's curling on television to watch, and I am drawn to return to reflection on the theme of week one.
What is the value in sticking to the promise you make to yourself with a Lenten discipline? Is it counter-productive to stick to the commitment when it is so tough to complete? Where is God in this?
Commitment is about trust. If you say you are going to do something it is important to follow through, even if it is only a commitment to yourself. Trust builds good relationships. Trust builds self-esteem.
Trust has come up a number of times this week in conversations and side conversations in a number of settings.
We've talked (especially at the 'Living the Faith' workshop on Friday) about the new reality in the generation that is now in its early twenties. Trust is placed in connections in networked groupings, in technology and the power of technology to allow people to connect. Trust is not placed in multi-national corporations or even as much in the company that employs you. Trust is personal and not corporate. Of course these are generalizations, but they do seem to be true in the particular.
Is trust a spiritual gift? What about mistrust or skepticism?
I think they are both spiritual gifts in their own time and place. We talk about trusting in God. That's a good thing. But we also value doubt - and the questioning that comes with it. In particular our denomination is one that places questioning as a vital aspect of the faithful journey.
In this entry I've traveled from commitment - the discipline of doing something because I promised myself I would do it - and the wondering whether that is something that is of God in this covenant to keep at it all during Lent - to trust, and finally to the importance of skepticism and questioning.
I think I just described one version of the Lenten journey - perhaps a fitting way to end this second week on this my journey.


Spirit River,
February 27, 2010

The Lenten journey might be long and narrow like this one on the island of Maui!

Second Friday - Day Nine

Lenten Blog - An opportunity to engage in theological reflection

One of the things I've come to realize is that a daily blog is something like a daily journal except that it is not at all private, especially with the possibility that anyone with internet access can read it. A second observation is that I am beginning to appreciate the opportunity to intentionally engage in theological reflection that comes with doing something on a regular basis like this. That particular insight is also the reason why I am a bit tardy with this evening's post. I've been attending a series of meetings this week, and they have all provided me the opportunity to engage with others in reflection about the church - and in particular the tension that is so clear between the exciting possibilities for transformation that I believe are happening all around us, and the struggles that the church is going through institutionally as the less desirous effects of this transformation are making themselves known. It was said most clearly this weekend when someone mentioned that church buildings used to be the greatest assets the church had, but now aging structures are proving to be a great liability. Of course this is only one example of a range of effects of the incredible shift that is happening in so many areas in our culture. And so this face to face opportunity to engage in stimulating conversation has meant that my new found desire to do theological reflection in this blog has been reduced. Add in an evening of watching the final minutes and replays of all the excitement and disappointments of this day at the Olympics and before I knew it, the day was gone. I hope you will all (whoever you are!) forgive me for not getting this posted until just before midnight Pacific time! 

Today a group of people in Grande Prairie participated in 'Living the Hope' - a workshop presented by Lesley Harrison and Graeme Burns from Emerging Spirit. Once again we were excited by some stimulating information and some thought provoking insights on just where the church may be headed and what we need to do about it. As I've found in past Emerging Spirit presentations the material is quite interesting. It alternately leaves me wondering how it could be possible to tap into some of the searching thirty and forty somethings that we are told are out there, and how I would deal with the incredible change that such a prospect would lead me to have to handle. As we all know, change can be both incredibly exciting and scary all at the same time. 

I was a little disappointed today when I noticed that the coffee cups we were using are disposable, but mollified somewhat when I had a chance to look at them more closely. The first thing that attracted my attention was the world map profile on one side of the cup. Intrigued I held it up and noticed that there was a certain 'green' message on the other side. It forms the subject for the photos today. You can make your own decision about how 'green' they are....

Spirit River

Friday, February 26, 2010

 

Is this paper cup a 'green one'?