“Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healing for the body.” Proverbs 16:24

Like many of you, I have registered on Othena to receive my Covid vaccination.  I happened to be up late when the notification that the site was open came through, so I quickly registered.  Minutes later when I received a confirmation for my registration, I realized I’d made a mistake and mis-typed my birthdate. Let’s just say I’m doing pretty well for being 963 years old.  After a bit of frustration in trying to figure out the site, I was finally able to edit my birthdate and went to bed excited that I was on the list.

A few weeks later, I received an email inviting me to make a reservation to receive my vaccination. At that time, we were not back in school and I was excited to think I’d have my first dose by the time we returned to the classroom the following week.  I knew I wasn’t in tier 1A, but figured that maybe we had moved into the next tier without me realizing it.  I made an appointment and was feeling pretty relieved about it before noticing the confirmation had my original, non-edited, birthdate on it.  Frustrated that the system didn’t process my edit, I worried that I was now possibly taking a spot of someone who was supposed to be ahead of me.  I sent an email to Othena explaining what had happened but didn’t hear back so talked about it with a few of my friends who, after having a good laugh about my being 963 years old, all agreed that I should keep the appointment.  Maybe it was a blessing – and the worst that would happen is I would be turned away.

When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised at how organized Soka University was for quickly moving so many people through the line.  At the first check-in point, I handed the person my reservation form and my ID.  She asked me if I had one of the jobs listed and when I responded with a no she gave me a nervous look. She explained that the system had sent out a large number of invitations to people in the 1B tier over the past few days and she was unfortunately the human that had to tell me I couldn’t move forward and get the vaccine that day.  I quickly let her know that it wasn’t a problem and I understood.  I’m not sure how to explain it but there was some kind of immediate connection as she physically sighed and almost “wilted” as she released the tension she seemed to be holding.  She looked at me and said “Thank you. I’ve had to tell a lot of people this over the past couple of days and many are not as understanding.”  There was nothing special about my response, most people would have responded the same way, but it felt good knowing that I made her job a little easier in that moment.

While driving home from Soka University, I reflected on this interaction.  This woman’s reaction to my simple response made me realize, once again, that it really is the little things that we do and say in our daily interactions that can have the biggest impact.  Our words matter!  There have been many moments during this pandemic where I’ve been the receiver of someone’s grace, patience and kind words and other moments where I’ve offered those things to others. God asks us to walk beside each other and share some kindness, love and grace in our interactions. Being on both sides of these interactions has been a blessing because these moments have provided a connection that has made me feel closer to whomever I’m interacting with and, in turn, closer to God.  I am again reminded that God is always working through us.

Loving God, we give thanks for the love and care you’ve shown us.  We ask that you be with us today when we speak to others.  In these uncertain times we sometimes feel disappointed, frustrated and even scared. In those moments especially, God, help us to choose words that nourish and heal instead of hurt.  Amen. 

 Leyla

2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

My mom is an avid journal keeper. She illustrates them with beautiful watercolor paintings, and you can often find her crafting and binding her own books. Every liturgical season, she creates one of these journals. Today, she sent me a beautiful picture of her Lenten Journal. I hate to admit it, but my first thought was, “Oh crud, it’s that time again.”

Now, I’m the first to celebrate the liturgy. I love the ritual. I love the practice. I love the connection of all of us doing something together. So, why the reaction? Because sometimes, it feels like just one more thing. One more daily devotional, prayer, pious thought, or sacrifice when it feels like we have quite enough going on.

Beyond this, if I miss a day of whatever I’ve committed to do to practice Lent (note: rather than give something up during Lent, I typically try to commit to some new practice to draw closer to God), I begin feeling guilty and like I’ve failed God. Then, I double-down and recommit to catching up, working twice as hard, and end up all the more frustrated, exhausted, and riddled with guilt.

Could be wrong here, but I think I’m missing the purpose of Lent. I think my way is just going through the motions, completing tasks, and checking things off the list, rather than really growing closer to God. It’s not about committing to that Bible study that you’ll be able to squeeze in between the last work meeting and putting the baby to bed. It’s not about how many Bible verses you can memorize in 40 days. It’s not about how many journal pages you fill. It’s not about finally trying to make your way through all 40 of those daily Lenten devotionals you’ve been trying to complete for the past 10 years.

This year, I’m committing to doing Lent differently. This year, I’m going to open myself up to really experiencing the grace of God. Hearing loud and clear, that I am enough. Maybe I’ll write in a journal. Maybe I’ll read some more scripture. Maybe I’ll read a few of those Lenten devotionals. And maybe I won’t. Because this year, I think I’ve already practiced Lent more than any other year and it’s not even Ash Wednesday. Why? Because this year, I gave up my get gold stars for God mentality, and instead, I’m going to embrace his gift – grace.

Emalee Sugano

Lord, May all those that feel they’ve lost their connection to you, or feel like they need to earn their keep with just one more commitment, truly find you, find your grace, and celebrate your connection. Exactly as they are, and exactly as you are. Amen.

“Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.” Luke 5:12-16

Jesus was no ordinary person and there was nothing ordinary about his life. Once he started preaching, teaching, and healing in Galilee, life was a series of new towns, new people, and new opportunities. Even still, it seems that some patterns repeated themselves often enough as to become “regular.” He would arrive in a new place, speak to a gathering crowd, provide relief with words and deeds, and repeat this each day until the crowds were overwhelming. To maintain his balance he would rise early each day to go off by himself to pray. I think of this as a time of literal “regrouping” with (as) the fullness of God’s being.

There has been nothing ordinary about the last 11 months. We have had to learn how to live our lives in very intentional ways. We have had to be creative in how we do our work and maintain our relationships. And then, when we think we have a handle on things, researchers and leaders share new information and discoveries which require some adjustments. We have wonderful news in the information about vaccines and the acquiring of more doses, but this just makes our anxiety go from just “how do I avoid getting the virus?” to “and how do my loved ones get the vaccine when it is time?”

Yet even in all of this, there have been moments when it feels, well, routine if not ordinary. We refuse to accept this as the “new normal” but we have fallen into some regular patterns. We have needed grace to address these extraordinary times, perhaps we need even more when the outrageous becomes mundane. Like Jesus, we need to withdraw for prayer. We need balance. We need to remember who we are.

And so Lent comes at the perfect time. In the early church, the Springtime preparation for recalling the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus provided an opportunity for those who had withdrawn or become isolated from the community of faith to ready themselves for a return. We who have, through no fault of our own, been cut off from one another and from the regularity of our existence now prepare to return.

So we will take some time with God. We will, these 40 days of Lent, spend time with Jesus in the last days of his earthly ministry, as he accomplished his work and prepared to return to the fullness of God. I invite you to mark the beginning of this journey at our Drive-Through Ash Wednesday service, and then  withdraw a little further (even as we join together) to reflect on Adam Hamilton’s book, 24 Hours that Changed the World.

You are extraordinary people living in unusual times! God will get us through this together!

Loving God, move in us as we prepare for this Lenten journey. Help us to see all of the ways you guide and bless us in these strange days, so that we may be a channel of your mercy, peace, and love. As we prepare to slowly return to life in each others’ presence, help us to know that you remain present with us all our days. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Sunday’s Questions:
1. What apparent contradictions disturb you?
2. How has God revealed God’s nature to you over the course of your life?
3. How might you gain more understanding of God?