Lenten Giver-uppers

 A Lenten Reflection
Give up complaining——focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism——become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments——think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry——trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement——be full of hope.
Give up bitterness——turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred——return good for evil.
Give up negativism——be positive.
Give up anger——be more patient.
Give up pettiness——become mature.
Give up gloom——enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy——pray for trust.
Give up gossiping——control your tongue.
Give up sin——turn to virtue.
Give up giving up——hang in there!  


"After being baptized by John in the River Jordan, Jesus went off alone into the wilderness where he spent forty days asking himself the question of what it meant to be Jesus. During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it means to be themselves...to answer questions like this is to begin to hear something not only of who you are but of both what you are becoming and what you are failing to become. It can be pretty depressing business all in all, but if sackcloth and ashes are at the start of it, something like Easter may be at the end." Author unknown
"Lent is the time for trimming the soul and scrapping the sludge off a life turned slipshod. Lent is about taking stock of time, even religious time. Lent is about 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. Something like Easter may be at the end."  The Rule of Benedict: Insight for the Ages, Sister Joan Chittister 


Spring= new life, new beginnings.  Nature has had quite a long respite; the leaves and grass brown, the animals hibernating, tucked warmly in a safe little hideaway, only venturing out when absolutely necessary.  Thankfully, we all know that spring follows winter.  In order to get to spring, however, we must endure a winter.  Oh winter is different depending on your geographical location and some find winter to be the cruelest of nature's seasons.   

Fall is by far my favorite season.  It's odd really when you think about how beautiful nature is when everything is sort of dying.  I hear it's kind of like the trees have their own internal clock.  They know that the weather is changing and that winter is coming.  They days get shorter and there is less light.  I guess the ol trees start preparing for winter by dropping their leaves.  After all, the leaves require a lot of water and if the tree is going to sustain its whole self, the leaves have to fall.  I guess they were created for a season, to live a beautiful life, to give life.  Of course, I guess that means they were created to fall- to die.  Depressing, but it all, in its Nature-ific way, has a purpose. 

Why I'm I writing all this? 

 In my own life, there is evidence of changing seasons.  When I think about Lent and this season of my life, I see the evidence of winter.  I see the grays, the browns, and the drab colorlessness of it all.  It's as if I've gone into hibernation- only coming out when absolutely necessary; a solemn and sorrowful season at times. 

The Lenten season can be a dark time- a winter-ish time.  You know the whole "it's always darkest before dawn"?  But awareness is growing within me that Lent should also be a time of sacrifice; a time when we withdraw ourselves from things that we are quite fond of or may even think we need.   

I'm sure the tree is very fond of his leaves, but if he is to survive the winter, he has to give up his leaves.   

So, this Lenten season, as I desire to know more about sacrifice and I desire to know Jesus more in the days leading up to his death and resurrection, I see that I must give up something if I'm going to survive. Of course, it makes no sense if you give them up without a reason.

I suppose the point of giving something up is to feel the sacrifice and I believe I will feel the sacrifice with my withdrawal from certain things.  In their place, I will focus on reading and writing more; spending time with my Father and my family; finding healthier foods to enjoy…  

I have full confidence that my soul will be awakened throughout the Lenten season as I focus on the tasks before me, leading me toward Easter.

I am so looking forward to a life renewing spring following a cold, broken winter.



 
©2010 Brokensidewalks- Melissa M. Wilson

Rehabilitated Misery

Tired.  Just plain tired.

Ever get messages from God, clearly marked messages from God?  Of course, you may not realize at first, but later the pieces start fitting together.  You have that "A HA" of a moment when you realize that two paths converged and in their connection, you got a message. 

My message from last week started as friends near and far sent out notes of kindness and love to my family and I.  At first, it felt all warm and fuzzy, "I do have some really good friends."  But then I started seeing how they kind words from all kinds of friends, some who don't even know each other, started to come together to make a lovely little piece of art. 

It all started with part of an encouraging note from a friend:

"I tell you now that your ministry is where your misery has been. That same spot that made you cry and moan is where you can bring honor and healing to those who are touched with the same pain."

So, I did a little research.  The quote comes from TD Jakes.  And I found more…

"God takes the broken and the wounded and rehabilitates them so that they can be clinicians of healing and instruments of life. You want to know what to do with your life. You are stuck on the steps in a job that is not fulfilling, and you are getting older and want to do something that matters to you. Fulfillment is not always a matter of income. It means a lot when you can lie down at night and know that what you did today made a difference in someone's life. I tell you now that your ministry is where your misery has been. That same spot that made you cry and moan is where you can bring honor and healing to those who are touched with the same pain. This is the spot where your compassion will skyrocket, and you can help the next generation of victims to get out of their beds and walk."

"The challenge is to reach a place of healing where you can discuss what was once a silent frustration. When you can vent it, that frustration turns to wisdom. It is at that point that you reach outside of yourself and give to others that ministry come homes to you."

"There comes a point when you have received enough help that you are no longer on the critical list. The moment you can get up, it is good to do so. You can gain strength by helping others ... You will never become a minister as long as you lie in the hospital bed yourself. Get up and help someone else survive what you endured. There are so many people who need the bed you are in. You must give it to them and become a part of the solution instead of the problem. That, within itself, is a therapy."

So, yes, I'm experiencing a bit of pain in my life.  And I'm tired.  I'm very tired.

But my ministry- my service- could very well be where my misery has been.   I could potentially take what I've learned and use it to help others.  Not really a new concept, but it's difficult especially when you look at the word MISERY. 

I guess I've got a big choice to make.   Am I going to use my misery properly or abuse it? 

Misery can take you to a very dark place filled with anger and bitterness and eventually, hatred.   If misused, misery could kill anything and everything that comes in contact with it.  You can forget about joy and love and peace… misery will murder them.  It won't be a quick death; it will be a slow, painful, torturous death. 

But if one is able to harness the right energy and power, misery could change.   Misery could be rehabilitated.   Misery could be refocused and repurposed. 

My misery has been repurposed for ministry.   
Interesting…