Lenten Meditation

We’ve been watching what the Japanese people have been going through for over a week now. And we’ve been tuned in to what the populous in some Middle Eastern countries have been trying to do for over a month now. There really has been a lot going on on the international scene. Our world is changing; political boundaries are relatively stable, but what’s happening within those boundaries seems to be up for grabs. Our hearts and prayers go out to all people in the midst of suffering – whether due to natural disaster or political change.

This Lent, we’re seeing things happen that weren’t on our collective radars even a few years (or months even) ago. As we pray for those in our world needing prayer; those suffering loss, hunger, devastation, illnesses of various kinds… let us remember to hold our loved ones close. As we pray for them, we pray for ourselves. Let us not fall into the trap of seeing natural or political events as just another thing covered by the media. Let us not fall into the trap of seeing such things as just one more even that doesn’t really concern us.

But what can we do? Well, usually, not too much. We can’t leave our homes and families to volunteer our time feeding people, or running a shelter. Most of us can’t afford to leave like that (in money or time). We have children to care for, or parents (or grandparents) to tend to, or certainly other responsibilities to manage. And even if we could go… there are people all over this globe of ours that need someone to care for them, someone to help them, to give them hope… we’d be working until we fell from exhaustion. So what can we do? Well, we can give money. But considering all the disasters and appeals for money over these last few years… (Indonesian tsunami – 2004, Katrina – 2005, Haiti Earthquake – 2010, Deep Water Horizon oil spill – 2010, New Zealand earthquake – 2011, Japan Earthquake – 2011… and this is just the big stuff, and I didn’t even list the other 4 major earthquakes since 2005). That would be a lot of money… money that many now-a-days don’t even have to spend for necessities, much less luxuries. We could send money… every day, somewhere, to someone who really needs it!

It really is so much easier to just turn off the TV, the radio, or the internet, and let the world fend for itself- even if we do care! I’ve not said all this to make you feel bad, or even to highlight our inadequate ability to alleviate pain and suffering in the world. I didn’t say any of this to be a downer (we REALLY DO NOT like to hear about disasters and tragedies!). On the contrary, I REALLY DO believe we are people of hope, people of light!

We can look up! We can pray. We can live well. We can remember those places in our lives we need to work on, and work on them. We can become people of as much honor and integrity as we can muster. We can love the people in our lives with as clear a conscience as we are able. We can hold our friends close (cuz let me tell you, in a culture like ours… they can be hard to come by!) – hold them tight, tell them you’re glad they’re your friends.

Folks, we’re not powerless! We can make a difference in our world… our world… the little part of it we live in! I don’t necessarily mean adopting an insincere polly-anna approach to life, as we look for old ladies to help cross the street. I mean as we go about our day, we can look at our thoughts, and adopt a glass-half-full mentality as best we can. What can we do with what we have, where we are? What words can we say… or not say… that can make a difference to those around us?

May God bless you… BLESS YOU… tomorrow! And somehow, some way… may you have the honor and blessing to be a blessing to someone else!

Peace,