A Lenten Message: You are Not Alone!
Lent is always a difficult time for me. It is a time of somberness, a time of contemplation, a time of reflection. It is a time of fasting and forgiveness. It is a time of giving something up and maybe taking an act of kindness on. It is a time to slow down and take account of who you are in this spot in the world.
The world? It is a hard place right now. As a church member said on Sunday, “I am angry, hurt, and afraid.” How can you not be? This world is scary. People are losing jobs right and left. There is no sight of peace in Ukraine. Our immigrant brothers and sisters are afraid to leave their homes. The transgender community is under attack. Who will be singled out next? Will it be I? Nothing feels safe and secure. Where is my spot in the world.
And forgiveness? God may forgive but I don’t feel rather forgiving. I am angry at the insensitivity of people. I am angry that we are in this place. I am angry at our leaders. I may even be a little angry at God. Where is God in all of this? God feels pretty absent right now. Yet, I know in my heart, God is always near. I just feel angry.
There’s a song we sing during Lent entitled “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley.” It explains how Jesus walked the lonesome valley by himself towards his death. Does it feel like you’re walking in a lonesome valley? Well, I am writing this to inform you that you are not. There are people on this journey with you. I am with you. A church full of people are with you. We stand together.
During Lent and beyond, we will be lighting a candle each week for a different group of people who are being oppressed in our world. We start on March 9th with the Federal Workers. We will be doing this during Lent but it may continue afterwards. It is our way of showing solidarity with those who are hurting. It is our way of reaching out in love the best way we know right now.
You are not alone in this world. You are not alone during Lent. It is okay to feel angry, hurt, afraid, or anything else right now. Let’s just be there for one another. Let’s just flood this world of insensitivity with love and peace and justice in whatever ways we know how. And let’s do it together.
Michelle