Hello, Friends!

       We’ve come to the fourth of our spiritual disciplines for the season of Lent—service.

Having sojourned in your midst for nearly five years, I have a pretty good notion of who you are, as a community, and I know beyond any doubt that being of service has long been a core value around here.

      So it’s not my intention in this space or anywhere else to presume to give advice or guidance on how you should behave, or what you should set about doing, so as to do and be good, for God.

      Instead, I’d like for us to reflect on some subtler, perhaps more challenging dimensions of becoming willing to serve Christ, in connection with others.    Sometimes it’s the most fleeting, unexpected, and apparently inconsequential moments of life which afford us priceless opportunities to offer the love of Christ. 

       Here’s one.   Our customary polite exchange when greeting another goes something like this:   “Hi. How are you today?”   “Fine, thanks.   How are you?”    I’m struck by how often even the nicest people I meet leave off the “How are you?” part of the answer, as if the exchange is complete when one person’s well-being is considered, instead of both.   Of course we know that’s not true, don’t we? 

 Our absolute interdependence with our fellow humans and with all facets of creation is a marvelous dimension of our interdependent being with God.   If we don’t honor that with our language, even on the level of a surface greeting, are we doing justice to that part of our nature, and loving potential?  

      Even more challenging, how often do we really take time to listen, to care, to take in another’s  response to the query, “How are you?”   How often do we offer anything other than “okay” or “fine, thanks”?   I’m not suggesting we stop everything and undertake a lengthy therapeutic exchange with everyone we meet, or that we dump all our anxieties and stresses on every innocent passerby who offers us a friendly greeting. 

       What I’m getting at here is that the essence of service, after the self-giving example of Jesus, is authentic, compassionate presence—and there  is nowhere in life where this is not applicable, from fleeting encounters to our most intimate relationships.  

        Where our loved ones are concerned, how often do we launch into the day, each with our own agendas and assigned roles, wishing each other well, but not really taking the time to consider the other’s overall being, or possible soul-level need.  What if we took the time before parting to make eye contact, take a breath, and offer a word of blessing and peace (and receive one, too)?

?   What difference would it make?   Perhaps not much, on the surface, but over time, I believe, such genuine connectedness can make all the difference in the world.   Knowing we’re really not alone, today, and that our loved ones know we’re with them, can really buoy our spirits and sustain our  energy for all the other kinds of service to which we’re called.

        And at day’s end, do we take the time to check in, and really listen, on the heart level, to the experienced truth of a dear one’s day—not trying to offer correctives or solutions or provide answers, but simply being present, receptive, and accepting of the other’s authentic being.  By the same token, are we willing to reveal our own truths, and allow a loved one the opportunity to serve us, by listening?

        Now that I’ve said these things, of course, I’m going to feel honor-bound to put these principles into practice.  That’s one priceless value of covenant community, for me; you folks hold me  accountable literally to practice what I preach.  Thanks a lot—no really, I mean it—I’m grateful!

         To help us frame our day’s awareness, with service as the focus, we might try offering this question into the space of our morning’s devotions:
         “How may I be of service (how may I share Christ’s love) today?”

And after a day’s experience, we might spend a bit of time reflecting on whatever awareness emerges, with this question:

          “How have I been of service (how have I shared Christ’s love) today?” 

         As we enter into our Holy Week observances and offerings, let’s continue to give thanks for all the ways we are blessed by God’s wisdom, compassion, and creative capability.  I believe we’ll keep growing in love, in understanding, and in renewed energy for all the ways of being to which God is calling us.

         I look forward to growing with you this  Sunday, this coming Holy Week, and all our days to come.   

  Shalom,

Sarah