For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39
Lent is the perfect time to reflect on whether my life is in line with my beliefs. We all step out of line as the days go by and we all need to evaluate, readjust and set our lives back into correct alignment. Lent is the perfect time for this.
Lent leads us to Good Friday and then Easter. Now, I know that theologically there are a lot of ways to encounter the Cross on Good Friday. But for me, personally, I’ve taken to seeing on the cross the ways my actions or lack of actions have hurt God’s children and mostly, God. My worst moments have a tendency to rest on the cross of Good Friday and stare back at me waiting for a response.
But before I can even get to the Cross I need to spend time reflecting on my life and comparing it to the call on my life. How far out of whack am I? Are there places I need to correct? Are there things I need to realign? Because it’s hard to come to the cross empty handed and look at it I see nothing but a piece of wood that someone died on. Seeing it that way makes it a nice gesture and really cool thing, but it’s not really very personal is it?
To see the cross as where my worst lands with the Love of God looking back at me in response is powerful. Even my worst me can’t make the love of God leave. I can do my best at being my worst and yet, God’s love forgives me, helps me stand, and sets me on a path to love others…GRACE! My worst can not defeat God’s love! But God’s love CAN and DOES defeat my worst. God’s love can and does defeat our collective worst! AMEN
Rev Heather Schimmel
Lyons Christian Church