Dear Friends,
We now find ourselves in the middle of the Lenten season. When we think of Lent, we think of Jesus being solitary in the wilderness for 40 days tempted by the devil. It’s a time of prayer, fasting for some, reflection, self-denial, and repentance.
Like the previous years, I’ve given up solid food for dinner and I plan to give the money that I would have spent for those meals to either a hunger project that our Outreach Committee endorses or to the Haiti relief efforts. If you are doing a meal fast, I invite you to consider the same.
But this year during the first two weeks of Lent, the Winter Olympics are going on. The Olympics seem contrary to Lent. The games are a world wide community celebration of artistry, beauty, and athleticism. The Olympics invite friendly competition to test human skill and measure individual and team will. It seems like it’s quite the opposite of contemplation and silent reflection.
The Olympics also represent adventure and journey. I love to take in the interest stories, to follow the dramas as they unfold, to witness the overcoming of obstacles, and to cheer on triumphs and victories. So I’ve been staying up to 11 pm every night. It’s a different contrast to the usual spiritual disciplines.
When Jesus was in the wilderness, I’m sure he was attuned to the landscape, the creatures and critters, and the temperature and weather. He didn’t have technology and the commercial world to distract him. He was without the conveniences of bottled water, energy drinks, or vitamins. But Luke 4 shows that Jesus relied on the word of God.
But to borrow from the sport imagery, for 40 days Jesus was in an athletic marathon of faith. He was engaged in a battle with the devil. These 40 days tested him, it called him to summon his best resources, it forced him to live fully for the moment. May we find the courage, strength, and will power to battle through our Lenten discipline and may we draw on God’s word to strengthen us as we march through to Jerusalem and Holy Week.
— Pastor Bob
