Lent Hurts

I wrote the following couple lines in an email to a friend tonight, and realized, as I looked back over them, that I want to share them, here, too, because they are strongly definitive of my journey, and of who I am and the space I'm presently occupying.

"I've decided that Lent hurts. That for me this year, it's about ripping things down, things I've held on to for too long. About not avoiding, but diving right smack dab into the center of the turmoil and the pain, and then hoping for the strength and ability to swim."

Defining Hope

A friend and I are batting around the questions, "how is hope defined?" and "what is hope?", and I've decided to solicit your opinions.

Leave me a comment telling me how you would answer one or both of these questions.

Creating Space for God - Henri Nouwen

Another challenging reminder from Henri Nouwen.


Creating Space for God

Discipline is the other side of discipleship. Discipleship without discipline is like waiting to run in the marathon without ever practicing. Discipline without discipleship is like always practicing for the marathon but never participating. It is important, however, to realize that discipline in the spiritual life is not the same as discipline in sports. Discipline in sports is the concentrated effort to master the body so that it can obey the mind better. Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort to create the space and time where God can become our master and where we can respond freely to God's guidance.

Thus, discipline is the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God. Solitude requires discipline, worship requires discipline, caring for others requires discipline. They all ask us to set apart a time and a place where God's gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to.