I am starting to think that the Spirit of God who inspired our Lenten Theme, “Human Being,” is making fun of us. Have you seen what our “doing” calendar looks like? Have you witnessed the hub of activity at the church these days? Are you aware of the bustle of activity happening around the 75th Anniversary High Tea this Sunday? Do you realize that this Sunday, we are holding our Annual Congregational meeting within our church service which is a big and beautiful thing, but has required a monster pile of “doing” for many people to get ready for? I can just picture the angels of God that surround our lovely community chuckling lovingly in clusters as they watch us try to “be” amid all our “doing.”
Then again, maybe that is the whole point of trying to make space for human being in the season of Lent. We have not placed a moratorium on doing anything during Lent. Rather we have laid claim on our being, said we must not give up on simple being, must not let the doing overwhelm us.
One of the High Tea organizers told me this week that at each of their preparation meetings they have lit a candle and tried to sink into a moment of being in the midst of all the doing. They have had limited success, but even trying has made a difference. And isn’t that really what Lent is about- trying to open up a space in all the doing so that we can simply be. Find moments to, as the song goes, “clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our minds that we may see all the things that really matter. Be at peace and simply be.”
So this weekend, at worship, in the business of the church, over tea on Sunday, and in the rest of the busyness of life, my you find yourself trying to simply be in the midst of it all. And may God meet you in that moment with breath and serenity, and grace.
