Church,
Lent is hard. Turning toward God with repentant hearts. Being more diligent about fasting and prayer. Awaiting the death of Jesus. I am glad that Easter is almost here.
Each week during Lent we have worshipped and studied on Wednesday nights focusing on Marshall Rosenburg’s Nonviolent Communication. That is not easy. Getting down to the basics of how we interact with our friends, family and neighbors takes courage. Last week’s chapter said this:
“When people hear anything that sounds like criticism, they tend to invest their energy in self-defense or counterattack. If we wish for a compassionate response from others, it is self-defeating to express our needs by interpreting or diagnosing their behavior. Instead, the more directly we can connect our feelings to our needs, the easier it is for others to respond to us compassionately” (Nonviolent Communication, 3rd Edition, pg 53)
It takes time and intention to figure out when we are communicating with compassion and when we are doing harm to one another.
Each Thursday we have spent thirty minutes doing Meditation and Mindfulness with therapist and SecondFirst member Sandy Williams. Scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46). Some of us have a harder time than others (me!) sitting still, and we need these tools and intentional time to just be in the presence of God. (Sandy is gracious to keep her language open to welcome folks from many or no religious tradition. I know I sit in the presence of God).
Lent is hard work. Gratefully, there is abundant grace for the seasons of life when Lent passes us by or when we lose our intentions part way through. Thanks be to God that Lent readies us to experience the saving life of the resurrected Christ. I am ready to celebrate. I hope you will invite your friends and family and join together for Easter!
Peace and perseverance be with you,
Rebecca