Lenten Journey Revised

Last week, as we began our Lenten journey, I encouraged each of you to give up something for Lent. Not to push ourselves into suffering but to bring clarity to the rest of our lives. Whatever you choose to give up, I wanted you to realize it’s a small start that may lead to a bigger goal. For example, if you want to live a healthier lifestyle, perhaps giving up putting sugar in your tea might be a perfect place to start. Yes, this is a small step; however, it could encourage you to make even more choices to help you reach your goal. 

As we continue to the next stage of our Lenten journey, I ask you to take a step back from the busyness of your everyday life and examine your faith. What can you add to your life to help you develop your spirituality? Are you missing something that you used to do at church? Perhaps you are missing a spiritual practice you used to do or need to carve out more time to pray.  

Mental, physical, and spiritual health are all intertwined; they all need to be in balance for us to be fully healthy. When our spiritual health is lacking, we often feel lost and restless; we are searching for more out of life. There are many ways to balance our spirituality: going to church, meditation, walking in the woods, reading the Bible, or even praying. 

This Sunday, we will examine the possibility of adding something to our Lenten journey to help us prepare for Easter by drawing closer to the Divine.

Blessings

Rev Kim  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Would Jesus Respond to the Chaos in the World Today?

Many of us may feel overwhelmed by the challenges posed by Trump and his team of billionaires, as well as certain economic issues in Canada and various global concerns. However, this current situation provides Christians an opportunity to express their authentic voices and emerge as a powerful force for good.  Here are some solutions, revised from a recent Broadview Magazine article*, on how Jesus might respond to the world today. 1. Be Bold.  Last week, in a touching inaugural prayer service, Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C., reached out to Trump, encouraging him to show compassion for those affected by his policies. This courageous action speaks volumes and will certainly make an impact. For us in faith communities, it reminds us of the importance of engaging with our politicians and advocating for our values. Let’s unite with our friends from various denominations and faiths, as the time when a single church can affect change alone is over!...
Read more

Knowing When to Walk Away

I sometimes wonder why I write these posts. Often, I write them because I need a reminder of how to be a better person. Sometimes, I need this more than others, and this is one of those posts to remind me to be a better person. We can all agree that a lot is happening politically in the world right now; this is the understatement of the century! I find myself too often checking the news to see the latest drama. Yes, I care about politics; I vote but don't love drama. I deeply care about the people in this world, and I want some sort of peace. But what does that look like when surrounded by people who love drama? How do we ignore the current political climate and still care about what is happening worldwide? Last week, I found myself unfriending people on Facebook—people I have been friends with for a long time. I could not take their overly loud political views for one more second. I could have shut down social media and snoozed them for a few weeks, but no, I suddenly wa...
Read more

Self Compassion

This week hasn't been easy for me. I've been battling a pesky virus, which makes even the smallest tasks challenging. I feel a bit guilty about missing work and letting people down. I tend to be pretty hard on myself. I always strive to be the best version of myself, so when I fall short, I feel disappointed. However, when I see someone struggling or feeling unwell, I’m quick to offer them kindness and understanding. It’s amusing how we can be so much kinder to others than to ourselves. Self-compassion can be a tricky subject. If we indulge in it too much, we risk becoming self-absorbed. Nevertheless, most people find it difficult to grant themselves even a small amount of compassion. At its core, self-compassion is about mindfully treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding we would extend to a friend facing difficulties. It means being gentle and supportive rather than harsh or overly critical when we make mistakes or feel inadequate. Research shows that pract...
Read more