Taking Stock and Cleaning House
Jane M. Gardner, presiding evangelist
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. -Psalm 19:14
Some people are “pitchers” and others are “savers.” This is based on a person’s natural tendency to pitch, throw away, and purge things as opposed to saving them. I can see an alignment of “pitchers” with the Lenten season-a period of examination and winnowing that results in going deeper into discipleship. Said another way, Lent is a time to take stock and clean house.
We recently cleaned out our garage. I love the way it felt to purge and clean! In a back corner of the garage there was a trunk that had been placed there when we moved in-something I planned to get to in the future. Twenty years later we couldn’t even remember what was in the trunk.
As we sifted through the contents, it was a journey through our memories-accomplishments, friendships, pictures, and papers that marked significant moments. I found a letter my mom wrote to me when I was a young mother. The words were a blessing, then and now. As things we “saved,” these collected memories are also integral to the Lenten journey. We come into the Lenten season with all we are and what has shaped us.
During this Lenten season, may we experience pitching and saving-pitching those things that take us away from Jesus, the peaceful One, and saving the DNA of our past on which to build our future discipleship. With the Psalmist we humbly make this Lenten plea as we follow Jesus toward Jerusalem: “Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
Prayer Phrase
Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One?
Spiritual Practice
Gospel Contemplation (Mark 1:9-11)
Each week during Lent, you are invited to pray with a different gospel story from the life of Christ. Use your senses and imagination to enter the text. Allow it to come to life in you, observing details, noticing interactions, even engaging in dialogue. Notice where you find yourself in the story and how you feel about what is happening. Notice what it evokes in you or invites of you. Take time to journal or enter silent prayer to reflect on your experience and to sense where the Spirit may be leading you through this scriptural encounter.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
