Dear people of Bethlehem,
Blessed Lent. This is our season of introspection. A time to release our attention from the constant sound bites and noise that dominate much of our waking hours. It is a time to “selfishly” turn our attention inward to the state or our hearts, our relationship with our God, and the cadence of our faith. It is important work. Work that attends to the core of our identity as the people of God. But here is the interesting thing — our “selfish” attention to the matters of the heart and to the depth of our faith, inevitably draws us back to the world, but with a very different focus.
The focus of Lent is fasting, almsgiving, repentance and prayer. This last Wednesday night, we welcomed Baha’i guests to share their faith with us. I learned that, in the Baha’i tradition, there is a 19 day fast that occurs at the same time as our Lenten season. Like Muslims during Ramadan, the Baha’i fast from food or water from sunrise to sunset. In both traditions, the purpose of the fast is to renew compassion for those who must go without food on a daily basis. It is a discipline to increase awareness of the needs of the neighbor and focus on our shared humanity. Ramadan overlaps with Lent this year, as well.
I am struck by the commonality of our journey. In the uniqueness of this year’s calendar, our Bahai and Muslim neighbors are fasting, at the precise time that we are focusing on our Lenten journey, on our need to give what we can. For many of us, every heart is focused in the same way. Many of our hearts are contemplating the same deep truths. Together, we are leaning towards the way of God. During this Lenten season we will sit with Baha’i, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders. Each expressed the same joy at the invitation. Together, we are endeavoring to live our lives in order to make better this world. It is heartening to know that we are not alone on the journey. I feel a sense of our common purpose. A community, reaching out together to care for the neighbor and further God’s work among us.
How interesting that our decision to turn inward, in this season, reminds us of the heartbeat we share. How interesting that the decision to be self-focused draws us toward one another.
I wish you every blessing on your own Lenten journey. May you be blessed with time to quiet your heart and listen for the still small voice of God. Together, may our steps be a little slower, so that we might see our neighbors, and our shared humanity. May your heart find peace as God accompanies you in the deepest needs of our soul.
May you rest in God. May you go with God’s grace.
Pastor Laura