Lent: Day Three
Lent-Day 3
Friday
February 27, 2009
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Philippians 4:1-9
John 17:9-19
“The Power of Negative Thinking”
Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. Ezekiel 18:31-32 NRSV
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 NRSV
Today is about choices. The Lenten disciplines are a powerful exercise of our freedom. It is in our power to make a difference in our families, church, community and the world. Let me state that a little stronger; we do make a difference. We make a difference by our actions. We make a difference by our attitudes. We make a difference with our words. We make a difference with our presence and our attentions. However, today consider how we make a difference with our inaction, apathy, silence, absence and neglect.
As we mature we become better able to claim the responsibility of our actions, but how much thought do we give to consciously not doing things?
For example for the past year I have been a practicing vegetarian. Consuming meat is something that I have intentionally and actively not done. It is not that I think that eating meat is completely wrong, but for a multitude of reasons I have become convinced that it is wrong for me. Becoming vegetarian (for me) has been a holistic process that has been both the source and response to a new heart and a new spirit. This has been both a positive and negative collection of action and inaction. This is obviously not for everyone, but it has been a positive choice and exercise of my freedom to abstain and not do.
Obviously, there are many things that we can choose not to do. We can choose not to play the lottery or purchase products that exploit the poor, employ child labor, or pollute the earth. We can choose not to invest with companies that profit on the suffering of others. We have the freedom to disassociate ourselves from groups that discriminate or victimize others. We can abstain from conversations that do not build others up.
Please understand, I am not saying that we can withdraw from the world and turn inward. All of these things are positive and active acts of nonparticipation. Abstinence does not mean that we also withdraw from the conversation; rather we are fully invested in another way.
Too often we ignore the importance of our inaction, omission, silence and absence. There are also negative sides of these too. To do nothing in the face of suffering is a choice to be a part of the systems of oppression. To abstain from doing acts of kindness cheats the community of our gifts. To hold our tongue out of fear is to surrender without a fight. To hide out of insecurity is a sure way to see that security continue to erode.
Today let us consider our choices and freedom to abstain or not do. Think about how these can be a means of grace or an embrace of evil as much as our actions. What is it that you should not be doing? What is it that you are not doing that you should? May God help you to know the difference.
Today let us pray the words of Philippians 4:8 in the negative.
Loving God, whatever is untrue, whatever is dishonorable, whatever is unjust, whatever is impure, whatever is displeasing, whatever is lamentable, if there is any mediocrity and if there is anything worthy of criticism, help me not to think about or do these things. AMEN.
