Broken, Exposed, Resurrected: A 12-Step Journey Thru Lent, Week 1
Lent can provide a space to explore the rough edges of ourselves and/or our community, and invite the Spirit to smooth them into something beautiful and new.
Lent is upon us and the weather magnifies the heaviness of the season. Have you had a chance this week to slow down and focus on your spirit? On Sunday evening I posted the poem, the Steps, and the scripture reading we used in worship that morning, and invited you to contemplate them. I also included some spiritual practices to try in an effort to name what we are tempted by.
Were you able to take a few minutes and tend to your spirit? Lent need not be a bleak and lonely season. It can be a time when we invite God into the broken places, the wilderness places, in our own lives. It can also provide a space to explore the rough edges of our community and invite the Spirit to smooth them into something beautiful and new.
Lent is the perfect season to examine more closely our spiritual health as individuals and as a community. If it is too much for you to contemplate your personal brokenness, perhaps you could spend some time thinking about the community and where we might be stuck, or tempted to remain as we are, or where we need to invite God in.
Whatever you do during this season, my hope is that you find time to slow down, take a few deeper breaths, and seek the presence of God. You don’t have to change everything to experience something new in this sacred season. A few minutes a day with the intention of seeking God is enough to begin the journey.
If you’ve tried a new or intentional spiritual practice this week and are open to sharing it, please share in a comment. We are in this together and can benefit from one another’s experiences.
May we all take some time to name where we are broken, expose those rough places to the power of the Holy One, and trust in the possibility of resurrection.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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Interesting timing for this prompt Rachael! It’s very similar to an assignment I received at the online retreat (Diamond Approach) I was at this past weekend.
The homework is to start and keep a superego/inner critic journal. Every time I notice my superego/inner critic showing up, I need to write it down. Ah ha! There it is again. I could’ve said “I write it down” and what came out was “I need to write it down”. “Need” for me implies duty and responsibility, which aren’t necessarily bad things. When I’m constantly saying it, it can then start to feel overwhelming. Hmmm…. Things and habits to be aware of; a part of my own ongoing journey (spiritual and psychological).
Sarah, your journey continues to bring insight and healing.
I really appreciated yesterday’s service!!
Thanks, Char!
Even though we are in Florida supposedly ‘relaxing’, I am sorry to say that I slipped on reading and commenting on our Living Table website. I promise to do better for the rest of this month. I am biking and singing in our Concert Chorus along with staying in touch with LT’s book club.
Hugs and blessings to all of my LT friends.
Barb Gort
Barb, sounds like you are having fun. Enjoy the warm sun!
I am having a really hard time reading this blog post. It shows up in really dark blue background.
Regardless, carving out time for our individual spiritual health is so important, especially in these interesting times. It helps ground me and clear out all of the other stuff.
Thanks, there was an unfortunate glitch re: colors on certain mobile browsers. It should have fixed itself really quick. It’s back to normal now, right?