“GETTING THERE”
John 16: 21-24

March 2006

Black History Month has passed.  In February, people in Wisconsin and others around the country celebrated in simple and elaborate ways, the unique contributions made to our nation by people of African descent.  March is Women’s History Month. It is a time in which the special contributions of women to our nation and world are celebrated.  This year, the United Methodist Church is celebrating 50 years of women being ordained and the unique contributions ordained women have made to our denomination over these decades.    These are important times to lift up the stories of those sometimes still marginalized in our culture, and to remember and celebrate the contributions of others whose voices have yet to be heard.

We are also in the church season of Lent. 40 days, not counting Sundays (our ongoing celebration of Christ’s resurrection), in which we remember the unique, singular, unparalleled contribution of One other.  We remember Jesus’ journey to the Resurrection!

The road Jesus walked to his resurrection included both celebrations and sorrows.  He could only get to the Resurrection by going through the cross.

During Lent, Christians recall the last days of Jesus’ life as human and consider our own life’s journey.  Where are our sorrows and celebrations?  What are the things within that we need to take to the cross in order to rise as new creatures in Christ without them?

For many Christians, Lent is a time to confess to God and to engage in truth-telling with ourselves.  It is a time to let go of some practice or behavior that is an indulgence rather than a support to our Christian journey.

I began some years ago, identifying something I needed to let go of or to begin doing as a life practice at the beginning of Lent.  The Lenten Season then became the time to begin that process.  Sometimes it meant eliminating a food from my diet.  Sometimes it meant forgiving someone for a past hurt.  Other times it meant consistently practicing a spiritual discipline like remembering the Sabbath day and keeping it holy.  This year my Lenten practice of fasting one day a week is what I will continue to do after Easter.

Walking these days with Jesus is both a challenge and a blessing.  I have found that volunteering to let go of something or making a decision to add a new behavior does not make it any easier to do.

Yet, Jesus left us an example.  The example of how to ‘get there.’  How to get through the cross to the Resurrection.  Jesus gave.  He gave all of who he was.  He gave all he had to give to God.  He emptied himself, spent all he had, poured himself out until only God was seen and revealed.  But Jesus emptying resulted in his being such a full expression of God’s spirit and presence that the overflow changed the world.

Emptying ourselves, in healthy ways, for God, is the gateway to the fullness of our souls.

As Peterson says, “with less of us, there’s more room for God.”

I pray that each of us will be able to empty ourselves during this Lenten Season of whatever it is we desire to let go of that has been a barrier to our ability to walk with Jesus the way we really want to do.  May we celebrate a new understanding of the Resurrection this Easter.

“When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it.  But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth.  This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain.  The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar.  When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you.  You’ll no longer be so full of questions.  This is what I want you to do.  Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve reveled to you.  Ask in my name, according to my will, and He’ll most certainly give it to you.  Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!”  (John 16: 21-24, Peterson)

In Christ’s Love,

Bishop Linda Lee