Every time we come around to this Lenten season, even though I’m a pastor, a small part of me cringes. It seems on a number of levels such an archaic action that the ancient church structures call upon us moderns still to do. Classically the preachers will ask their devotees to give “something up” for the 40 days as a sign of spiritual discipline. Others over the years, have begun to suggest that we “take something on” as a sign of our discipline. Both approaches, though, leave me at times feeling faint. If we are all so unspiritual throughout the whole year, can f 40 really help.

One of the joys of being a pastor is having the time to read, and think about things. As I prepared by Ash Wednesday meditation, I came across one of those gems that seems to help me.

Walter Bruggemann, old testament scholar, suggested this about being attentive to God’s Word. As we focus on God’s Word, that action is meant to move us out of our “alienated silence of exaggerated self, and out of the silence of rage toward an exaggerated God, into a serious, dangerous, subversive conversaton that leads us to communion with God.”

This may be the most important piece of Lent, because for many Christians they will at a minimum attend church a tad more, read or listen to the Word a tad more and if all that leads us to a deeper conversation resulting in communion; this is our need for Lent.

We can’t pick up the local paper or hear the cable news currently without being faced with this question.  Politicians at all levels are struggling with what we think are “limited” resources and deciding where to place them.  On the local scene, we continue to debate the desire of the local community to support our minor league baseball team.  On the state level, at least implied by this morning’s paper, we again will face the possibility of pulling part of the financial foundation away from the MD system here in downtown.

How has it come to pass, that in one of the richest countries in the world, resources seem to have disappeared and no one seems willing to make a commitment to invest?

As people of faith, the challenge is always to be a counter-cultural force.  When the world wants to wash it hands, we dig in.  When the world sees scarcity, we see God’s abundance.  Can we engage the conversation?

Yesterday I had the occasion to visit down at the correctional facility south of Hagerstown.  I was visiting a local guy who I’ve met over the years.  Through his tears it was so apparent that those behind bars live in an alternate world.  People make mistakes, some very serious, and then we send them into a system which is just designed to further destroy all positive human interaction.  People are so closed and defensive with all, because to do otherwise would be to risk your possible destruction.  And then when they are returned to society, we expect them to act civil and human again.  Can these two worlds ever be connected in positive ways?

I think we have done great things with our techonology and need to keep pressing forward, and discover how this can help our disciples and others stay more attuned to God’s work here. For instance, our email file is still incomplete and in this year, to press forward and get as complete a list as we can and use it not only for delivery of the newsletter but more immediate updates and news.