Lent: Observations

Pick something in God’s creation to “consider” today. Today's video from SSJE asks you to do homework again.  And to use the original meaning of the word "consider" - don't just think about it, but look at it closely, and observe what lessons it might have for you.  What did you notice or observe?

Richard Migliore Photography

As Br. Geoffrey points out, Christ often asked us to consider small things in nature - lilies (Matthew 6:28, Luke 12:27), ravens (Luke 12:24), the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31, 17:20; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19, 17:6).  Is it a coincidence that the smaller it gets, the more it's mentioned?

So let's consider a subject of Romans 1:20:  "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead" or DNA.  The article linked there is the subject of study all over the world, and there's no doubt that this was not an accident of evolution, but a design of the Creator.

We won't ask you to study something as small (and complex) as DNA, but we will ask you to pick something out of creation today and consider it.  What did you find?

Lent: Meaningful Connections

When you connect with nature, what makes it meaningful?  That's the focus of today's video, but you're going to have to reach for the answer - it's not spoon fed to you through Br. John's words.

In answering that question, consider the definitions of "Nature" (as per dictionary.com)

1.  the material world, especially as surrounding humankind and existing independently of human activities.
2.  the natural world as it exists without human beings or civilization
3.  the elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals, or rivers.
4.  natural scenery
5.  the universe, with all its phenomena
6.  the sum total of the forces at work throughout the universe.
7.  reality, as distinguished from any effect of art.

So we're not just talking about connecting to elements outside of humanity, but also including humanity.  We're talking about how we connect with reality itself.  So what makes the connection to any of it meaningful?

If you become so inspired, you could go to The Center for Humans & Nature to write an essay on the topic.  Much of what they discuss concerns ethics, and as such, it fits in well with our study here.  The discussion of creating a rule, and why we would want to do such a thing is an important step in understanding why we choose to worship in the way we do.  Some feel drawn to it; some want the structure that rules provide; some want to help others when they seem lost - to give them a code by which to live. And we often realize that Christ gave us that code, reiterating commands given by God so long ago - in broad strokes:  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  (Deuteronomy 6:5)  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)"  (Matthew 22:37-39)

Some of us know and love the concept, but even as the Jews had difficulty accomplishing it still by the time Christ came, we have difficulty in actually carrying them out today, and so we create additional or "sub-rules" that help us to fulfill those two great Commandments.

So, what makes your connections meaningful to you?  

Lent: What's Thriving in Your Life?

The garden metaphors grow thickly on the vine in today's video.  Being fairly new to gardening, myself, I was answering the gardening questions first as the Brother was speaking.  And about half way through, I remembered that this was to grow a rule of life, no matter how useful the questions were about the garden.

 There is a great deal that can be read, researched, meditated upon, etc. regarding how one develops a personal Rule of Life for themselves.  SSJE offers a workbook for your contemplation, meditation and prayer, which is free to download.  You can also see the 49 rules which govern the lives of the brothers living under the SSJE monastery, by purchasing their book that discusses each of the rules and how they came into being.  There's a video series on the freedom that one can experience in living under rules that they have created themselves, nurturing and planting, planning and harvesting throughout their lives.  Links to all of these can be found here.

So, taking a page from the workbook for this Lenten season, let's take a look at what we want to be surrounded by in our daily lives.  Some examples:

Be Open. Open yourself up to this process. Invite God fully into each idea and question you may have.

Be Creative. Think outside the box. You may have a unique image of what you want your garden to include.

Be Gentle. Be gentle with yourself. There are no right or wrong answers. This is not a competition.

Be Realistic. Simple and honest answers are far more useful than sweeping, idealistic ones.

Be Patient. This is part of a lifelong process. Give yourself time to develop your ideas along the way.

Be Flexible. Be willing to change and modify your ideas as your life moves through different seasons.

The link above gives a few more examples of what you might want to include for yourself.  Don't forget one of the most important activities Jesus did during His 40 days in the desert - pray.  And in this instance, we're going to use prayer with imagination (can also be found on the SSJE site):  In prayer, imagine yourself in a conversation with Jesus in which you describe to him what it is you value most and how you want to live faithfully in the world. Ask what he values most and how he wants you to live.

As you can see, you've got homework.  Yesterday was fairly simple, an introduction.  Today, you need to think, reflect, pray, and make some decisions.  Feel free to comment on your journey.

Lent: Rhythms in Nature

Nature's rhythm - the topic of today's video from the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) - is displayed in such a wide variety of forms for us.  The question asked:  How might the rhythms you observe in nature inform the way you live?  My mind immediately jumps to all of the fascinating parallels between nature and science, and nature and math - but those aren't really things that inform the way I live.  They are certainly methods of learning about the world around us, and how things work, but how do nature's rhythms affect my life?

Being female, all girls grow up with the knowledge that their own cycles are affected by the moon; interestingly, boys aren't taught that they, too, have cycles that follow the moon, where they are moodier at a certain phase or more energetic at another (as the mother of a boy, I found it useful to track just when that moody cycle would hit and when I needed to stock up on more complex carbs to keep up).  Fishermen, too, learn how tides are affected by the moon, and when the best times to fish are.

Anyone with a garden learns the cycle of nature, and the best times to plant which crops, how to watch weather patterns to know when to water, when to harvest, when to turn the soil over and let it rest.

Depending on where you live, you learn to prepare for hurricanes, see the signs for tornadoes, smell the rain or snow in the air, watch the animals for warnings of earthquakes.  Watching the animals and how they, as a part of nature, are affected by cycles in weather, birth, death, preparation and procreation.  All around us, the way of nature can determine the direction of our footsteps as we journey through life - knowing that we, too, are a part of nature.

Knowing that God provided nature to us, we have only to listen and be aware of the lessons that literally surround us to learn and shape our own rules for life.  

Lenten Message from the Presiding Bishop

This Lent message from our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, talks not only about what Lent is about, but why we as Episcopalians have both the responsibility and the privilege to observe it.

So what we you be doing this Lenten season?  Here's where this blog will be following:

Newsletter from Diocese of Montana

Just a short post today, but with an important link!  The Diocese of Montana's monthly newsletter is full of information for Episcopalians in Montana  Take a look! 

Options for Lent

Lent is coming up so much faster than anticipated this year!  Ash Wednesday is February 10th!

So, according to the Book of Common Prayer, Lent is a season in which all Christians are invited "to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word" (BCP, p. 265).  Traditionally, Lent is a time when we deny ourselves something that is good to do without (sweets, alcohol, carbs, etc.); we add something into our daily routines that is good for us (reading the Bible, exercising, keeping a journal, etc.); and focusing time that used to be spent on other things on prayer and meditation, studying and growing our spiritual lives into something we would like it to be.

There are many options out there for Episcopals.  Here are a few favorites:

Society of St. John the Evangelist - Growing a Rule of Life:


Walk the Path of Lent - the Episcopal Relief and Developments daily meditations.










The Crucified Life - from the Christian Life Trilogy.

Lent Madness - a fun way to learn about the saints, early church fathers and mothers.

I Am With You - The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent 2016 readings.

Please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments below!