March 13, 2011

Lent is time for trimming the soul and scrapping the sludge off a life turned slipshod. Lent is taking stock of time, even religious time. Lent is exercising the control that enables us to say no to ourselves so that when life turns hard of its own accord we have the stamina to yes to its twists and turns with faith and hope. Lent is the time to make new efforts to be what we say we want to be.” The Rule of Benedict, Joan Chittister.

I have listened, read and observed with bemused interest the Hot Bat issue in the Saturday baseball game between the Gamecocks and the Tigers. Phone lines on local sports talk shows have been jammed with partisan rhetoric over the issue. Coach Jack Leggett called Coach Ray Tanner and a long discussion ensued. While I am a passionate Gamecock fan, and admit to getting rather breathless in the finale of their 3 game series Tuesday evening, ultimately it is still a game.

And there is a need for perspective.

In our lives, we spend much energy wondering and worrying what people think of us, what we have, and what others have that we wished we had.

And there is a need for perspective.

The 40 days of Lent offers us a chance for perspective. It is a time of spiritual spring cleaning – a time to remember where we are going—a time for letting go of those things that don’t really matter, and all those things that get in the way of loving God and loving others.

Martin Luther King, Jr., in a speech delivered the night before he was killed, demonstrated a life of perspective. “Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

During these 40 days of Lent let us open ourselves to God. Let us face ourselves and not be afraid of our imperfections, and learn to live this life more fully with God’s help.