Sleepwalking through Lent

For some reason this morning, I woke up feeling ambivalent about Lent. The only way that I could describe what I was feeling was to say that I felt like I was sleepwalking through Lent.

Tracy and I talked about it at breakfast this morning. I explained that it felt as if the more removed we became from Duke and our "Liturgical Worship Education" the less I felt strongly about a strict adherence to the Season of Lent.

We had an awesome conversation. We shared the importance of the season and our love for the liturgical and lectionary cycles. We talked about the power of the message and the opportunity for really moving through a period of repentance and forgiveness. But, I still felt a little numb.

Maybe it was the busyness, maybe it was the opportunities that I had chosen, maybe it was the fact that I wasn't preaching this weekend, or maybe it was a combination of them all.

We then talked about the fact that maybe it isn't so much that the season has lost it's power, but the church has lost its ability to find a true expression of the season through its application. I take some personal responsibility in that at least in my most current setting, but I think the church has a lot of work to do.

In order to be relevant and timely, we have got to find a way to express the power of a changed life through the life and grace of Christ. This is not a once a year gig - but something we have to do all year. If all we do during Lent is put on another dinner and attract those who are already here - than we're missing an opportunity. If Lent is to be a time of conversion, maybe we have to do more to give opportunities for relationship building throughout the year, so that when these seasons do arrive, we would have opportunity for catechises. WE have got to rethink how we are followers of Christ and be that expression in the world.

I think Lent has become something for those on the inside, and that's probably what disturbs me the most. Next year . . . no, next week, I'm going to begin to seek new ways of being the church. It has to start now, so that next year I won't feel the same way.

I think that I'm just tired of going through the motions right now. Maybe that's my act of confession!

Why do we do what we do?

Many of you know that my mornings are unlike most clergy who get to walk across the street to their offices, or drive a block or two. My office is 26 miles away. In this economy of rising gas prices, I guess I could choose to run two marathons a day, but I choose to drive. Good choice.

Most mornings I fill my long commute with the sounds of Mike and Mike in the Morning. I'm a big sports fan and so this gets my juices flowing as I drive, drink my coffee, and prepare for my day. I love their interviews, their guests, and their way of providing entertainment. I also listen, because more than making me think about sports, it makes me think about much, much more.

This morning, they were interviewing Bonnie Bernstein. She is noted for her sideline reporting during sporting events. I've never thought that those reporters had the easiest job and it was confirmed during the interview.

One of the questions that was asked dealt with the interviews with coaches either at half-time, or immediately following a game. The guys were asking her about how awkward that moment must be. Basically, they were asking, "Why do you do that? Why do we insist on aking coaches questions when we know how hard it is? Why is that a part of a broadcast?"

Her answer was simple. She acknowledged how difficult it is to get a sound bite or an answer out of a coach during those moments of frustration, but that there is always a chance that you are going to get something. There is always a chance that you are going to get that one good answer, ask that one good question, get that one nugget.

That made me think about what we do every day and even ask the question, Why do we do what we do?

On this Pentecost weekend, I think its about getting that one chance to make a difference in someone's life, making a difference in such a way that we continue to press on toward the goal line in hopes of making a kingdom difference. It isn't always easy, we don't always get confirmation or the right answer - but there is always that one little moment . . .

And it all makes sense, God makes a difference. And before we know it, more and more lives are influenced, more and more lives are saved.

News from the Bizarre

I don't know why I found this - but take a look at this story of a man who was trying to row upstream. Tell me if this is not a metaphor for church work!

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-liresc0921,0,6017627.story