For the western Christian tradition (all those who are non Greek or Russian Orthodox, etc.), this calendar week brings us the flavor of Lent. As usual, my childhood retentivity of Lent is non-existent. Basically, Quakers did non uncovering Lent. It is non thus much that nosotros were against it equally that it was non necessary. Quakers are a funny bunch. At to the lowest degree originally, they sought to move serious nearly their organized religious belief on a daily basis. I even thus uncovering that laudable. So it meant they were non inclined to develop aside days in addition to periods when a Christian should move to a greater extent than serious in addition to others days in addition to seasons when they could lighten up.
On the surface, I even thus handgrip alongside my Quaker heritage. However, I also know the downside of that heritage is that it could hit the sour, dour Quaker who took everything thus seriously that in that place was no longer whatever spice to life. There was no argue to express joy and, maybe even, celebrate things. To move chronically serious is likely neurotic or worse. So I get got tried to surrender that role of beingness Quaker!
On the surface, I even thus handgrip alongside my Quaker heritage. However, I also know the downside of that heritage is that it could hit the sour, dour Quaker who took everything thus seriously that in that place was no longer whatever spice to life. There was no argue to express joy and, maybe even, celebrate things. To move chronically serious is likely neurotic or worse. So I get got tried to surrender that role of beingness Quaker!
But when you lot practise that, Lent makes feel inward that agency I scream back the larger Christian Blue Planet understands it. So I movement to participate at that level. I also appreciate this is a thing Christians practise that has a similarity inward other major religious traditions. Ramadan, for example, is the Muslim month-long fasting period, which has early on roots inward Islamic history. Not to consume from sunup to sundown, equally the Muslim does, is challenging. Probably most Christians practise non confront a comparable challenge inward his or her Lenten resolution.
But this meditational reflection is non thus much nearly me equally nearly another important ones whom I watched on Wednesday---the get-go of Lent. I went to an Ash Midweek service, which is an ecumenically sponsored effect alongside our College Chaplain in addition to the Newman Center, the Catholic campus ministry. It was a meaningful experience, which culminated inward most of those inward attendance marching to the front end of the chapel for the “imposition of ashes.”
I had ashes “imposed” on my forehead. I had been marked! Clearly, right away I was identifiable equally a Christian…at to the lowest degree for that day. My Jewish sisters in addition to Muslim brothers were non thus marked. I must acknowledge (and maybe it is my Quaker uneasiness) that I am non quite certain what to practise alongside it right away that I get got a marked forehead. It makes me a lilliputian self-conscious. That inward itself is an interesting spiritual issue.
And afterwards that twenty-four hours it hitting me. I went to a coming together alongside a bunch of coaches for a plan I had organized. For a acre I forgot nearly Ash Wednesday. And in addition to then a novel autobus walked inward in addition to she had the ashes on her forehead. She was marked! I knew zippo of her story. But I was impressed. I practise non know her real well. But in that place she was alongside those ashes on her forehead. What a witness!
I get got no persuasion what she felt or thought. And perhaps, it did non fifty-fifty matter. She did it. I tin gauge most of her novel friends did non know this spiritual appear nearly her. And I was proud of her. She stood for something in addition to was willing to demo it. It is dissimilar than wearing a cross equally a slice of jewelry or the Star of David (although this takes to a greater extent than gumption). Wearing ashes on your brow is non “fashionable.”
So this autobus became “more” inward my heed (and this sounds similar I had persuasion of her equally “less”). The “more” she became had zippo to practise alongside the fact that she coaches 1 of our sports. It had everything to practise alongside her faith, witness, commitment, in addition to spirit. And inward many ways I don’t know the “details” of her faith, witness, commitment or spirit. But I am certain in that place is important content which I tin larn in addition to appreciate.
She became a instructor for me. She is a model now. I tin move a spiritual wimp. It makes me grin 1 time once to a greater extent than at the spiritual irony of life. Yet again, immature instruct the old. And I am grateful.
But this meditational reflection is non thus much nearly me equally nearly another important ones whom I watched on Wednesday---the get-go of Lent. I went to an Ash Midweek service, which is an ecumenically sponsored effect alongside our College Chaplain in addition to the Newman Center, the Catholic campus ministry. It was a meaningful experience, which culminated inward most of those inward attendance marching to the front end of the chapel for the “imposition of ashes.”
I had ashes “imposed” on my forehead. I had been marked! Clearly, right away I was identifiable equally a Christian…at to the lowest degree for that day. My Jewish sisters in addition to Muslim brothers were non thus marked. I must acknowledge (and maybe it is my Quaker uneasiness) that I am non quite certain what to practise alongside it right away that I get got a marked forehead. It makes me a lilliputian self-conscious. That inward itself is an interesting spiritual issue.
And afterwards that twenty-four hours it hitting me. I went to a coming together alongside a bunch of coaches for a plan I had organized. For a acre I forgot nearly Ash Wednesday. And in addition to then a novel autobus walked inward in addition to she had the ashes on her forehead. She was marked! I knew zippo of her story. But I was impressed. I practise non know her real well. But in that place she was alongside those ashes on her forehead. What a witness!
I get got no persuasion what she felt or thought. And perhaps, it did non fifty-fifty matter. She did it. I tin gauge most of her novel friends did non know this spiritual appear nearly her. And I was proud of her. She stood for something in addition to was willing to demo it. It is dissimilar than wearing a cross equally a slice of jewelry or the Star of David (although this takes to a greater extent than gumption). Wearing ashes on your brow is non “fashionable.”
So this autobus became “more” inward my heed (and this sounds similar I had persuasion of her equally “less”). The “more” she became had zippo to practise alongside the fact that she coaches 1 of our sports. It had everything to practise alongside her faith, witness, commitment, in addition to spirit. And inward many ways I don’t know the “details” of her faith, witness, commitment or spirit. But I am certain in that place is important content which I tin larn in addition to appreciate.
She became a instructor for me. She is a model now. I tin move a spiritual wimp. It makes me grin 1 time once to a greater extent than at the spiritual irony of life. Yet again, immature instruct the old. And I am grateful.
Buat lebih berguna, kongsi:
