Journey Into The Wilderness

2004-04-11T17:35:00.000-04:00

Luke 24:1-3
Come and See
by Alex Joyner

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body.” – Luke 24:1-3 (NRSV)

O.K., let me just say for the record that if Jerry Bruckheimer were directing the resurrection story, it would have looked a lot different. Great action adventures about heroes overcoming terrific odds always end with a bang in Hollywood. You save the best car chase, the best explosion, the best confrontation with the diabolical villain until the last reel...the last scene even. You definitely don't end with silence.

But that's exactly what happens here. In Matthew there is an earthquake. In most of the gospel accounts there are angels in the form of a young man or two. But the central thing about the story is not an action but an absence. There's nothing there. The point of the story is that there is nothing there.

It's just like Jesus, who upset all of our expectations, to do another dramatic reversal at the end. What more could he have done? His work was finished on the cross. He said so himself as he took a last breath, "It is finished." God went the whole way with this incarnation business...even to the point of dying. The reconciliation of all things to God was really not in doubt after that.

But we still doubt. We still wonder if a love as powerful as God offers could be real. We still wonder, living in a world of terrorist explosions and "smart" bombs, if good can prevail. We still wonder if the promises of Christ were meant for us with all of our confusion and failures.

And what better way to confound our doubt than to leave some more space for wonder. That empty tomb is not a splashy, flashy ending; it's a beginning. It is a welcoming of the world into the mystery of God. It is Jesus saying to us at the end what he said to two disciples at the beginning of his ministry when they asked where he was staying. As then he said, "Come and see." What's going on in the silence of an Easter morning? Come and see and know that you are welcomed and accepted.

The Reverend Alex Joyner is the Director of the Wesley Foundation United Methodist Campus Ministry at the University of Virginia.

2004-04-10T05:34:00.000-04:00

Job 38:1 - 42: 6
First Year
by Brian Lee

This is the valley that I’m walking through
And it feels like forever since I’ve been close to you
My friends up above me don’t understand why I struggle like I do
My shadow’s my only, only companion and at night he leaves too

Down in the valley, dying of thirst
Down in the valley, it seems that I’m at my worst
My consolation is that you baptize this earth
When I’m down in the valley, valleys fill first

Down in this wasteland I miss the mountaintop view
But it’s here in this valley that I’m surrounded by you
Though I’m not here by my will it’s where your view is most clear
So I’ll stay in this valley if it takes 40 years

And it’s like that long Saturday between your death and the rising day
When no one wrote a word, wondered is this the end
But you were down there in the well, saving those that fell
Bringing them to the mountain again

- “Valleys Fill First” by Caedmon’s Call

Last Easter, I was baptized into the Body of Christ. I have to tell you, it’s been an interesting year of baptismal life. I remember last spring as being a season full of events happening all at once. I had finally made myself at home in a community of faith, I was finally able to articulate my thoughts and feelings about faith, I was dating a nice gal, I was finally getting to know a lot of my fellow civil engineering students - I was on top of the world. Amidst of all these events, the idea grew in my mind that finally God had found favor with me because I had finally found what I had looking for these past few years.

Then something changed after I got baptized. It felt like everything around me unraveled. There was a death in the family, relationships changed, and life seemed to get harder all of the sudden. The time before baptism I felt like I was on top of the mountain, after baptism it felt like I had tumbled down into a valley. To put it mildly, I wasn’t too pleased with my new surroundings. I was angry. I was angry because it seemed that everything that I had come to know and believe was just proven wrong.

As the weeks and months passed after my baptism, I felt angrier and more disappointed. I wondered to myself why I had even chosen to step inside a community of faith. Was I supposed to be in a community of believers or just be a loner with the Lord? I wondered why I allowed myself to be so open, why I allowed myself to put down my guard for people who would hurt me. I wondered what I had done to allow all of this to happen all at once and what else will happen. Had I fallen from God’s favor?

As the seasons turned, I wandered in the valley I fallen into and shouted. I felt disappointment in the people whom I had surrounded myself with and I felt disappointment in myself. I felt frustration and confusion as I tried to confront situations as a Christian would. I knew a gradual change was supposed to happen after I was baptized, but I didn’t like how I had changed thus far. Was I supposed to be angry and so intense? Was I supposed to be like this?

Then entered Job.

It must have been the luck of the draw that I am near so many good people. Like the Job’s friends, they sat in the ashes with me. Unlike Job’s friends, they didn’t presume to any explanation or advice. Knowing me so well, they offered only their own experiences and reassurance. At the time, one friend told me it was okay to be angry and struggle, but only for so long. “I mean look at Job,” he remarked one night. “He questioned and struggled and that was all right with God.”

He kept going on and on about Job. Then, he finally told me that I had to see things as they really are. I knew that a part of faith was to struggle. But another part of it is to trust in things unseen and incomprehensible. Right at this moment, I don’t know why things are and it’s not my place to know. I wasn’t there when God created the world and I am also not present as God does the work no mortal can ever understand.

So, I’m going to remember my first year as a baptized Christian as me struggling to admit what Job finally says in the first six verses of Chapter 42. Things happen and I won’t know why. The trouble that I have is that I would rather lead than be led. I want so desperately to have things go my way that I lose sight of everything. The amazing thing is that grace is continually at work to help us still our ambitious hearts and leads us to live life as we as intended by God. Life doesn’t get any easier, but it’s not going to get more difficult. A wise man once said that one cannot invite the wind, but one must keep the window open. Tomorrow morning as I watch the Easter sunrise, I will be mindful to keep the window open and remember that grace is at work even if nobody understands.

Brian Lee is a fourth year at the University of Virginia.

2004-04-09T05:33:00.000-04:00

1 Peter 1:13-16
Freedom from Sin
by Christina Stone

“But my sin was this, that I looked for pleasure, beauty, and truth not in him but in myself and his other creatures, and the search led me instead to pain, confusion, and error. My God, in whom is my delight, my glory, and my trust, I thank you for your gifts and beg you to preserve and keep them for me. Keep me, too, and so your gifts will grow and reach perfection and I shall be with you myself, for I should not even exist if it were not by your gift.” - St. Augustine, Confessions

St. Augustine tells us we do not sin just for the sake of sinning. Evil cannot be our motive. (Romans 7:15) In fact, evil is not an entity within itself. It is a privation, a lack of goodness just as darkness is a lack of light. Instead, we sin because our view of goodness is perverted. Our idea of beauty is corrupted. Take a few minutes to think about why we sin. To fit in? To feel more loved? Although the desire to be loved and accepted is from God, we vainly give our entire lives over to these desires. Spend time in prayer, asking God to help us turn away from self-sufficiency and self-direction.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, morn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” - James 4:7-10

Here, James is not saying we should go around crying all day long. Instead, he urges us to take our sins seriously. Grieve for our personal sins and the sins of the world. This might take the form of setting aside a special time of confession each week or establishing accountability groups. Ask yourself how you can take sin seriously? Remember why we strain toward righteousness—not only to obey a law—but because we have fallen in love with our Savior, and we want to please Him.

Now resting in the work of Christ on the cross, remember we are forgiven. (Romans 8:1-3) We are freed from the bondage of sin. Spend several minutes praising God for this mystery of mercy. Humbly approach God with your sins, and He will lift you up! For we struggle through the Season of Lent in mournful expectation of Sunday morning!

Christina Stone is a fourth year at the University of Virginia.

2004-04-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Lam 2:10-18 & Ps. 42 & John 13:1-15

Cry Aloud to the Lord!
by Andrew Marshall

As a people of privilege, we rarely can connect with the rigorous mourning and lamenting of the people of Israel, who were always the downtrodden and the oppressed. The next few days, however, can offer us a glimpse into this feeling of complete and utter despair. After all, the Israelites may have lost many things in their day, but the adversarial question, “Where is your God?” from the Psalm takes on a completely new meaning, with answers over the next few days ranging from “Washing my feet, like a common servant,” to “On that hill being crucified,” to “He’s dead, and we don’t know if he’s coming back.” At times like these, as we enter into the darkest and most desolate days of the Christian year, the words of Lamentations come alive. “Cry aloud to the Lord! O daughter of Zion! Let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite!” But in the midst of all of this despair, Jesus is not done teaching yet. After washing his disciples’ feet, he explains his actions, giving them yet another example of how they are to treat one another and those around them. By this action and his later actions in the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus gives his disciples some very physical means by which to remember him long after he is gone. But nowhere in his actions that night does he tell the disciples not to weep for him because wink, wink; nudge, nudge; you know I’ll be back. In fact, in the 16th chapter of John, he tells them that they will weep and lament, but that their sorrow will turn to joy. So, brief as the time may be, spend the next few days reclaiming the sorrowful words of Lamentations. You may know the end of the story, but that doesn’t keep this part from being tragic, and worth lamenting. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”

Andrew Marshall is a fourth student at the University of Virginia.

2004-04-07T17:31:00.000-04:00

John 12:37-50
Seeing and Believing
by Sara Porter

This task is too big for me. If I could, I would ask that this burden be lifted, but it is for this reason that I have been called. They do not understand. No one understands. I try to explain: “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.” Sometimes, it gets so tough. I try to be strong, to not run. I have to accept this plan, this destiny, but I get lonely and sometimes I must find solitude for myself. Though there are many reasons and signs, they choose not to see and believe. The prophet Isaiah spoke before me: “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn —and I would heal them.” Even so, many believe, but they do not confess this truth of mine because they love human glory more than the glory that comes from God. I cry aloud to them: Whoever believes in me believe not in me but in the one who sent me! You do not see me, the man before you, you see God through me. I come to shine light into the world’s darkness. I am not here to judge you, but to show you a healthy and righteous and truthful way to live. The word that I speak, the word that is God, will judge. God’s commandment is eternal life.

Sara Porter is a graduate (Class of 2003) of the University of Virginia.

2004-04-06T05:31:00.000-04:00

Living Fearlessly
by Rob Bauer

I think that for a lot of us, the hardest of Christ’s commandments is not loving our neighbor or loving God. I mean, we all fail in those to some extent. No one really tries to shirk those, though, since they’re non-threatening, especially in America. If you help someone pick up their dropped books, pray before eating, go to church, or give money to charity, no one will think that you’re weird or make fun of you. In fact, the odds are that you’ll actually be held in higher esteem by those who see you. It’s a win-win situation.

No, I think the commandment hardest for us to follow is the one given in Matthew 28:19-20a, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (NLT). The reason this is so hard is because the world stands ready to mock us as soon as we start talking about God or being “Jesus Freaks.” Satan cannot stand to be mocked, and so he’ll try and stir up whatever fears we have inside ourselves so that we’ll do whatever is necessary to avoid having them realized. We’re terrified that someone will see our true self and reject it. Any fears we have of loneliness and ostracism are taken advantage of, and we only consider how others perceive us, while forgetting the second half of Matthew 28:20, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When we look at how things get done, there’s rarely much of a pattern, except that utter faith in God’s providence is required. Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac. Joshua took Jericho by marching around it and blowing trumpets. Gideon defeated the Midianites by sending most of his army home and equipping the remnant with torches and clay pots. Mary bore Christ. Peter walked on water. Christ never even healed blind men the same way in any recorded instance. Everyone has heard the saying “God works in mysterious ways,” and hardly anyone would disagree, but do we really accept it as being true, or just as a platitude? Thankfully, I haven’t been called to behave as the prophet Ezekiel was commanded, but I still constantly battle with the temptation to hide my light. I lack discipline and trust. What if they make fun of me? What if she says no? What if, what if, what if?

What if my fears are all based on attaching too much importance to a transitory world, and not simply trusting in God to provide what I need? He provided food, mates, and shelter for animals. He provided these things even for men and women who rejected Him. Why should I be afraid of what he will provide for his loyal servants? That’s why Lent is such a blessing: by reflecting on the Passion and possibly giving up some desire or practice, we are able to more fully recognize where we truly stand. We fear because we’re lost, and by seeing clearly that we’re not lost but are actually able to see the path we need to follow, we can then live as fearlessly as the Apostles and Saints did, preaching the Gospel and training others in living according to God’s will.

Rob Bauer is a senior at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

2004-04-05T05:30:00.000-04:00

Luke 15: 13-21
Wake Up Call
by Alex Chapin

I always have had a Christian influence in my life. Whether or not I always followed it is a different question, but I at least have grown up in the church family. I had great mentors to look up to, great friends to keep me out of trouble, and a great place to constantly grow closer to God. I have carried over the commitment I had for my home church with me at UVA. The point I am trying to make here is that I am blessed and very grateful for the life that has been given to me. One question that I have been pondering lately is why is it so hard for us to abstain from SIN? I truly felt that I was failing God every single time I sinned. One day I realized that sin is necessary to bring us closer to God. This sounds very weird at first, but hear me out. Let’s make believe that God is a dog owner, and we are the dog. God wants us to love him and to allow him to pet and love us back. Instead of God tying a leash to us and giving us doggy treats to make us play with him, God let’s us roam wild. God is constantly waiting for our affection, but all he does is wait. When we sin we have a desire to crawl back to God to reconcile our sinfulness. Without the sin in our lives we would just roam around without having any reason to run back to our merciful owner for help. This concept never really made sense in my head for some reason. I’m not saying that we need to purposefully be sinful, all I am saying is that instead of wondering why we sin, we should think of sin as a wake up call that can bring us back to God. The prodigal son takes his time to wake up from his alarms of sin. He goes on sinning until he literally has nothing left. I would not recommend this technique, but in the end he realizes how stupid he has been and comes running back to his father.

Alex Chapin is a first year at the University of Virginia.

2004-04-03T05:28:00.000-05:00

Psalm 25
Hope Amidst Despair
by Renita Banks

I chose Psalm 25 because it was the only Psalm that appeared on the list that Brian gave me. Almost 20 years ago I was asked to be the Bible teacher for a week long adult camp. They had already chosen the Psalms and I was to create 6 studies. I set out to read through the entire 150 Psalms, and was I in for a surprise! Those are some pretty radical poems and prayers! Much of what I had heard of the Psalms in worship or on the tongues of folk who had found solace in the Psalms had been uplifting, majestic, extremely positive expression. But, wow! When I began immersing myself in those unabridged verses I was overwhelmed by their honesty, their expressiveness, the sometime rawness of their pleas. The human relationship with God expressed in the Psalms was no pie-in-the-sky, sweetness and light affair. It was one of complete openness. Nothing was hidden from this God. Hopes, pettiness, fears and despair,delight, thanksgiving, anger, vengefulness---all of that is laid before God, sometimes in one Psalm!

I find solace today in the Psalmist's juxtaposition of hope amidst despair. It is enough today when my heart is troubled (vs.17) to remember this God who is able to lead me in a right path(vs.4). It is enough for today, when worries and conflicts surround me, to pause, to wait (vs.5) for this God who is mercy and steadfast love and faithfulness. And in that waiting I may be offered lessons. No, I will be offered lessons of God's faithfulness.

Prayer:
O God of mercy and pardon, forgive me when I seek too quick an answer. Turn me aside from the easy paths that exclude suffering and uncertainty. Help me remember the stories of your faithfulness so that I may live into them my own story and be saved by your steadfast love and kindness. I wait. AMEN.

Renita Banks is the Minister of Music and Christian Education at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

2004-04-02T05:27:00.000-05:00

Haggai 1:5-6
The Lord is with You
by Erika Holub

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.” - Haggai 1:5-6

Why?

19b: “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.”

So where are my priorities? Am I concerned more with my own plans than God’s? Where do I keep my hope? Where is my energy concentrated? What is my focus?

I have a hard time focusing because I am surrounded by distractions. My attention is easily caught by the computer, music, friends, my roommate, so why does it surprise me when I can’t concentrate? One of my most important lessons, one thing that has most impacted my walk with Christ, has been learning to embrace wilderness excursions. God has to cut me off from my distractions, remove those things in my life that have taken priority until the fruit I had been seeking can’t be found anymore. God, in His faithfulness, will “allure [me], bring [me] into the wilderness, and speak kindly to [me]” (Hosea 2:14).

God’s wilderness is a place of teaching (1 Kings 19), a place of refuge (Psalm 55:4-8), and a place where God can “remove the names of the Baals from [my] mouth” (Hosea 2:17) and realign my priorities.

During my “journey into the wilderness” this Lent, I am taking Galatians 1:10 and applying it to all aspects of my life. Am I seeking the favor of men or of God in my school work? In my relationships? In my pursuits? In all things, may I remain a bond servant to Christ.

Erika Holub is a sophomore at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

2004-04-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

Thinking About the Passion
by Mark Croushorn

As I think about the passion of Christ, I realize that I have a very poor understanding of the passion that Christ has for me and the rest of the world. Christ suffered immensely. He was rejected by his own people; even his own family at times rejected him. He had no place to lay his head and Satan was constantly trying to trip him up. The Pharisees were constantly trying to stir up trouble and trick him into answers that would be considered blasphemous.

Just the humiliation of being born as a human is an amazing testament to his passion for us. He was born into a poor family. He was likely teased heavily about his perceived illegitimate birth. He was born in a stable with only his parents and the animals to attend his birth. The birth of a king that would be as great as Christ would be heralded in the streets and rejoiced over by the people. Yet, he was born in a humble stable.

Finally, the ultimate suffering occurred when the Father turned away from His Son as He hung on the cross with the sins of the world upon him. I cannot imagine how painful this was for Jesus. He and the Father have such perfect fellowship that to lose that would be more painful than words can express. I think that this was much harder to deal with then all the pain from the scourging and then the crucifixion.

Yet, in spite of all the suffering Christ experienced, he conquered death. I know that if I were the one in his place I would have called down the legion of angels to save me from the suffering. Knowing just how often I sin, I would not die for myself, let alone the world. I don’t deserve the sacrifice and forgiveness, yet that is exactly where Christ’s passion comes through in perhaps its clearest form. He loved me enough to die for me.

Ephesians 3:17-19 says: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

I think that Paul realized just how important and life-changing this knowledge would be to us. If we really understand just how much Christ loves us it would change us and then the world. We would want so much to please him and obey his commands that we would not turn from him so quickly. We would want others to know and experience Christ’s love so much that we would be sharing Christ with everyone we meet and spend time with.

This is something that the Lord has recently brought to my attention. I want to study Christ’s love and passion for me and really understand it. I believe that by growing in this that I will be changed and that is something that I want. I am probably considered pretty good, even a goody-two shoes, by the world, but I am still a sinner and have much to learn. My prayer is that the Father, who is love, would teach me more of the love and passion of Christ. I think that this can start with meditation on the cross and the suffering that Christ went through to pay for my sins.

Mark Croushorn is a junior Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

2004-03-31T17:21:00.000-05:00

Genesis 39:1-23
The Lord is with You
by Will Coley

The story before us is the story of Joseph, the kid whose brothers sold him into slavery on account of their jealousy. This chapter however focuses on Joseph’s time under his first Egyptian master, Potiphar. At this time in his life, Joseph is “handsome and good-looking”, and since he excelled in all that he did because “the Lord was with Joseph”, he was made overseer of the Egyptian household. About this same time, Potiphar’s wife starts coming onto Joseph, but he refuses her advances, claiming that he will neither betray his master’s trust nor sin against God (and this is way before Moses communicated Commandment #6). And this continues for several days until, after a particularly strong rejection, she decides that enough is enough, and tells the whole household and her husband that Joseph tried to take advantage of her. Well of course Potiphar throws Joseph in jail, but since “the Lord was with Joseph” the chief jailer put him a captain in charge of the prison.

Now the reason why “the Lord was with Joseph” is in quotes is because 1) its actually a quotation, and 2) because it stands out in contrast to the story. Truly, this story highlights the fact that a follower of the Lord was thrown down and treated to a great injustice when he himself was faithful to God and his earthly master. But if God is truly just and loves humanity (and especially his followers like Joseph), then why do these people suffer such torment? Well, those that know the rest of the story might say that God sets things right for Joseph in good time. However, that is not the point of this story, There is a lot to be learned from his one episode taken alone.

First, it is wrong say that God is treating Joseph unfairly. The wife’s cruel actions are the cause of Joseph’s misfortunes. That is the unfortunate consequence of free will, namely the choice to be cruel and wicked. We are treated unfairly, then we are treated unfairly by our fellow men, not by our Lord. Secondly, Joseph does not mourn be thrown out of Potiphar’s house. He does not cry out to God and demand to know why he lost his status and comfortable life even after staying faithful to Him. This is only appropriate given the Bible’s emphasis on the meaninglessness of earthly wealth. Joseph’s former status and rich lifestyle mean nothing to him. Jesus and the prophets tell us that the Lord judges each person by the way they conduct themselves. Has he shown love and compassion to others like the Lord has shown him? If one has done these things then he will have real reason to care fro his own status and wealth. Those who expect their faith to protect them from all manner of harm and misfortune are missing the point of this story and likely to be disappointed. Each follower of the Lord should know that he will watch over, comfort, and aid him as he suffers from the evil ways of his fellow man, but that does not equate to a God who cares about our comfortable lifestyle. Therefore, be thankful that the Lord has given wisdom to humanity through Jesus and the prophets to overcome the distractions of wealth and status, and endeavor to treat everyone you meet with love, justice, and compassion.

Will Coley is a third year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-30T17:22:00.000-05:00

Psalm 95 & 1 Cor 10:1-13
Learning from the Fathers
by Joel Winstead

My fathers made mistakes. My great grandfather was an alcoholic who did not treat his family well, and drank until his liver failed, leaving his too-young children to try to take care of each other and their ailing mother on their own. One of his sons also despaired, and fell into alcoholism, and took his own life. My grandfather carried the baggage of the untimely deaths of his father and mother and brother his entire life, and managed to live a good and long life. But one summer while I was in college, he too fell into despair and depression and committed suicide, leaving the rest of us to take care of my declining grandmother.

I did not know this family history before that summer, but it affected me none the less. With hindsight, I can see the effects of this on my grandfather's personality, on my father's, and even on mine. None of us are comfortable around arguments, or raised voices, or loud noises. We avoid conflict whenever we can -- even when there are issues that must be confronted. I learned this behavior from my family, even though I did not know why I was doing it.

But even though this dark history affects me, I know that, as Paul writes of the Israelites in 1 Cor. 10, I don't have to repeat it. I may face similar deserts, but I can learn from the examples of my fathers -- both the good and the bad. I don't have to despair. I don't know if, as Paul suggests of Israel's history, God intended these events in my family to happen to serve as a lesson -- indeed, I doubt this very much. God has better plans for us than that. But I can still learn from their mistakes.

And although I never knew my great grandfather, or my great uncle, I did know my grandfather, and I know that although he did not meet a good end, he did live a good life. I remember him for the good and loving man that he was, and not for the way in which he died. Our darkest moments are not the ones that define us.

The college experience often includes wandering through deserts, but God does provide the way out. Lent can be a dark time, but I need not despair, like the Israelites in the desert or my fathers before me, for there is resurrection and joy in the end, and it is this that matters.

Joel Winstead is a graduate student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-29T17:23:00.000-05:00

1 Cor 7:25-31
God’s Presence Here and Now
by Jayne Ashworth

A few years ago, a young man I had watched through the University had graduated and continued to attend Wesley Memorial on Sunday mornings. I was a bit surprised as so many of my student friends graduate and immediately disappear, but I assumed he was preparing to leave soon or had decided to attend graduate school here. I was puzzled when he asked to talk after worship one Sunday, but agreed to meet him at a picnic table. We talked a bit and then he asked me how he would know when he had found the perfect job. He had more than one offer and was agonizing over making the "right" choice. I was a bit surprised he had chosen me to ask this question, and prayed that God would help me find wise words to share.

Aloud, I congratulated him on having more than one opportunity from which to choose and asked him to tell me about them. As I listened and pondered what to say, I realized that he was still in Charlottesville because he had stopped moving forward because of concerns about the future. I silently empathized with those feelings. When he stopped talking, I counseled that he should pray about his choices, and in his prayers try to be quiet to try to hear what God wanted him to do. When he knew, he should embrace this new opportunity with a passion: moving, finding a new church home, learning about the work to be done, getting a social life, and continuing to listen for what God wanted him to do. I told him the job he took might not be the perfect career for him, and he might leave it after six months (if it were truly a mismatch) or a year or two (if it became evident that it was not exactly what he wanted over time) or he might be there the rest of his life (rare, but possible.) Life is a process, I said. And God will help you find your way, if you will listen. Hearing is sometimes difficult, so sometimes we simply have to do the best we can, make a choice, and then move forward, trusting that God will help us get to where God wants us to be. In a few weeks, he was gone and I have not had the opportunity to see him since.

Like the young man, so many times I have allowed worries to overshadow my life, to disrupt what I have been doing as I wallowed in my fears and cares, and I have then, for a time, simply stopped being. In this passage in Corinthians, I hear Paul telling me that God calls us to be God's presence here and now, where we are; that we need to try to be God's presence every moment of every day, and to embrace and be God's presence in all that we are and do. Only then do we let go of our worries, remember to listen for God's guidance and truly trust that as we move forward, God is providing what we need when we need it. As long as we are here on this earth, we are always being and always becoming. And God is in the midst of both of those processes, if we will only allow it.

2004-03-27T17:24:00.000-05:00

No Need to Worry
by Russell Ames

Every once and a while I get into a bout of depression and sometimes it’s just a passing mood, and sometimes can cause me trouble for several days at a time. A little while back at the beginning of this semester I was having a weekend in one of my worst bouts of depression. In these fits of depression I become extremely anti-social and I over analyze many things in my life, and one thing seems to mull over in my mind the most. I wonder how God could allow me to be so depressed when I have no reason to be sad. I question the people around me and wonder of all the acquaintances I have, do I have any real friends. This fear has been especially strong in college where I’m surrounded by strangers, and there isn’t much room for the seclusion privacy while living in a dorm. So I removed myself from society as much as I could and didn’t talk to anyone for quite a while. But when I finally returned to my dorm a friend was there and asked me what was wrong. Well the conversation last a while and I learned I had a lot more valuable friend at college with me than I have known before. And it made me thankful that God had provided me with such a friend. It is fulfilling the promise from God in Proverbs 17:17 “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to in time of need.”

In realizing that God had given me a friend in time of need I was extremely thankful. This may not seem relevant to Lent but it reminds me of something that God commands me to give up, not just for Lent but for all my life. And this thing to give up is worry. Because God will provide all for us, there is no need to worry, as it is stated in Matthew 6:33-44 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Because Lent is about become closer to our heavenly father it is important we give up the chains that hold us down in the earthly things. This is why I hope and pray that for Lent we shall renew our promises to God by giving up our worries, our stress, and our troubles. For by removing in us what is of the earth, we empty our cups leaving more room to be filled by his holy presense. And then we will have nothing to worry about. And I shall not fear for I trust wholly and completely in the lord. “Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your path”, Proverbs 3:6.

Russell Ames is a first year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Taking a Step Back
by Emily Greene

It's very easy, to get caught up in our own little dramas.

But one almost has to- to keep life vibrant, to keep happy.

But often times in the process, the things that were once so shiny and important, quietly fade into the background.

Like that poster you bought in the eleventh grade-the one you casually eyed for weeks when passing the store, the day you finally bit the bullet and bought it, butterflies as you pulled the greasy bill from your pocket - the thrill of having it back in your room, rolling out the crisp paper and pinning it on your wall. Though that poster may have disappeared with time, it is still there, back in your room, back in that old world, at home.

At night, when you're walking back from the library, or from work, or wherever you're coming from- it is comforting to stop, and look up at the sky- to appreciate the stars and the vastness of it all. It's sort of a reminder, that each of our lives form a brush mark in a bigger picture. It doesn't mean that our purpose is insignificant, but rather, that there are many of us, and none of us alone can make the outcome.

So I suppose that's what Lent means to me. It's about breaking the routines, taking a step back from life, and redefining the things and the friendships that so quickly and easily lose their sparkle, as they become part of the grind, and their presence taken for granted. Because it is true, that we often forget that it is there, until it is gone. So whether you celebrate Lent for God, or mankind, or just because it seems like a good thing to do, remember that we are one of many, and that those many are who make our own lives, and ours theirs.

Emily Greene is a senior at the College of William and Mary.

2004-03-25T00:21:00.000-05:00

Psalm 114
Spiritual Thirsting
by Caroline Grummon

"Why is it, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
O mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?

Tremble, O earth, at the presence
of the LORD,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water."

You doesn't have to be in the midst of Lent to find yourself trapped in a spiritual desert, wrestling with difficult questions and thirsting for something to believe in. In fact, you could be rolling along happily in your spiritual journey, only to discover that something is gnawing away at your rock-solid faith. It can be a doubtful whisper in your ear, a difficult question with no answer, or perhaps a personal tragedy. Whatever the case, at some point you may find yourself thrown into the wilderness, surrounded by doubt and temptation, and feeling completely alone.

A few weeks ago, I had that feeling. A burning feeling of cynicism was rising within me, bubbling to the surface as a result of too many weeks where I was "too busy" for God. This doubt sprang from disappointment with myself and with the actions of others, and it was slowly making its way to every corner of my mind. Finally I was left with a late Thursday night where I found myself desperately combing the Bible for words of comfort and reassurance; however, in my frustration, I refused to find solace anywhere. I was cast in the wilderness, and I felt alone. Had I looked up, I might have realized that I wasn't, in fact, alone, that God was with me. But in my doubt, I only looked down, and saw my own shadow, nothing more.

My spiritual thirsting did not go unnoticed, however. My roommate Bethany was kind enough to talk to me for a long time that night, even though it was late and I was throwing her every doubtful curveball that my cynical mind could come up with. She didn't have the answers, but that night, she had one thing I was seriously lacking: faith. Without condemning my doubt, she instead sympathized, for she had been there before as well. Who in this spiritual journey hasn't? Finally, she gave me her hymnal to page through before I went to bed. I did so, finding that the old, familiar hymns brought me much-needed peace and comfort. I wasn't out of the desert yet, but I was given something to drink. And I was not alone.

Lent is a time of struggle, temptation, and doubt akin to these moments in the wilderness. But God is powerful, and if He can turn rock and flint into water to sustain us, how can we doubt that He is with us always? Everyone on this spiritual journey will find himself or herself in the desert at some point, thirsting for answers and burning with doubt. Remember, however, to look up and trust that we will be given water to quench our thirst. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Caroline Grummon is a fourth year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-24T00:20:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
For When I am Weak, then I am Strong
by Susie Larson

To keep from being conceited because these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

It is only through our hardships that we grow. Indeed, sometimes it is the times when it doesn’t seem like God is anywhere near you, is really the times when God is right by your side, walking in step with you. And it is through our very weakness that God can shine through after to set an example of divine love. No matter what our circumstances are, there is truly nothing, which is too much for God to handle, even if it is too much for us to handle. It is these times that we can be our strongest by putting God in control over our situations in order to overcome them, if we can only “Let go and let God” do God’s thang, on God’s time.

Susie Larson is a fourth year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-23T00:19:00.000-05:00

Psalm 93
Extraordinary Beauty and Majesty
by Lisa Fong

The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
more majestic than the waves of the sea,
majestic on high is the Lord!

Your decrees are very sure;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.

I am thankful for the knowledge that God is everlasting and majestic, and that his beauty continues whether I acknowledge it or not. When I praise God, it’s usually to thank him for giving my life so many blessings; rarely do I praise God simply because of his holiness. It’s hard to get my mind around the expanse of the universe we live in, much less the awesomeness of God. It seems Psalm 93 shows that difficulty—there’s no single, adequate way to describe God’s power, and in this psalm each line seems to try and build on the last in intensity. But as we observe this season of Lent, remembering Jesus, maybe God wants us to be especially mindful of this inadequacy in understanding his power and grace. Because I know there’s a lot of God’s beauty in the world around me, but the extent of that beauty is greater than I could ever understand.

Lisa Fong is a fourth year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-22T00:18:00.000-05:00

Genesis 42: 1-17
Reunions and Sacrifices
by Drew Willson

Quickly, let’s review: Joseph, Jacob’s favorite dreamer and youngest son, was betrayed and thrown into a pit by his brothers, and sold into slavery for twenty pieces of silver (Sound familiar?) Within the next thirteen years in Egypt, Joseph becomes Pharaoh’s number-one psychic hotline, predicts a massive famine, and saves everyone in the kingdom because his Eagle Scout training back in the land of Canaan always taught him to Be Prepared.

Yeah, prophets never are accepted in their own hometowns. That’s why (even though Egypt and the rest of the world are set for the famine) the story isn’t over yet—there’s still about 19 minutes left in this hour-long TV special, and you know there’s one story that isn’t finished yet and enough time for one more plot twist. Joseph’s brothers slime their way down to Egypt to pick up some grain to haul back to Canaan, Joseph sees them in the distance…. This Prodigal Return story is a bit different from that of the Son in the New Testament; Joseph is overjoyed at meeting his family again (43:30), but he wants everyone to be present for the reunion. So, he sends the brothers to retrieve their youngest brother—otherwise, they’ll all be put to death. This threat presents quite a fix for the family in that 1) the true youngest brother was sold into slavery years before, and 2) the now-youngest brother Benjamin has been kept safely at home, under the watch of Jacob. Jacob remembers the story that his father, Isaac, told him about nearly being sacrificed by his father, Abraham—he thinks all the way back into his family history to Adam, and laments that the apples never seem to fall far enough from the tree. He doesn’t want to give up his son.

But here’s the rub: the youngest brother is alive and well. Not only that, but Benjamin won’t be the biggest sacrifice made to bring this family back together. It’s Joseph who has already been sacrificed, and he’s been the salvation of every country affected by the famine and redeemed in Egypt. Nevertheless, he makes that challenge to his brothers when they come to Egypt—sends them back to Canaan fully equipped with food and money, mind you—that they bring the youngest son to reunite the brothers in Egypt.

A challenge for a sacrifice. To the older brothers, Benjamin is the youngest son and the sacrifice; to Joseph, he himself is the youngest son and has already been the sacrifice. In this Lent season, the betrayal and sacrifice of Joseph for the salvation of families and kingdoms sounds very familiar. What may not be as familiar is the challenge that comes back to us as we travel to Jerusalem and through the darkest hours of that Passion Week with Christ, participating in this living story of redemption. From Genesis, we know that the real communion comes long after Joseph’s sacrifice, when Jacob accepts the challenge to give up Benjamin out of love for the rest of his sons, preventing their otherwise-certain death. We receive challenges to sacrifice even after the greatest sacrifice has been made—this sharing of the sacrificial bread is what community and communion are all about.

So how will we participate in Christ’s sacrifice, then? Christ’s sacrifice has been made for the price of betrayal and some silver coins; what will we sacrifice this time out of love for others? As paradoxical as it would have been to bring Joseph back to Joseph, how can we bring or reflect God back to God through our own sacrifices?

Like the grains stored in Egypt, what is a gift that God has made available to you that you know you can’t live without?

Like Joseph and Jacob, what do you have to sacrifice (or take on) to make that gift a true source of communion with the world?

Keep reading this story, and look what happens to those who sacrifice when and where God calls them to do so: Families are reunited, wagonloads of the finest grains, breads, and provisions come to us in the land of Canaan—the kingdom of God is brought right before our faces—and then we all come to a new home where old loved ones we haven’t seen for a long time are waiting.

Sound familiar?

Drew Willson is a fourth year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-20T00:16:00.000-05:00

Luke 6: 37-38
No Hard Times Tough Enough
by Ernie Bowden

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

This scripture tells us that whatever you put out is what you will receive. However, you don’t always receive good things immediately after you do good deeds. A lot of times in life we have to wait for our rewards. To me, this is what lent is really about; waiting for our reward. It is a time for us to realize that some things require patience. In Jesus’ times, this meant that the people were living in poor conditions unknowingly waiting for Jesus to come and save them from their sins. But today we know that Jesus has already come to save us from our sins and now we are waiting is for the time when we receive the reward that is waiting for us. It is a time for us to realize that as long as we do what is right, we will be rewarded if we have patience and trust in God, because there are no hard times tough enough that he can’t bring us through.

Ernie Bowden is a first year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Lenten Addition to Life
by Leigha McReynolds

I have never associated Lent with a particular scripture or set of scriptures. I have specific associations for Christmas, Easter, love, forgiveness, but none for Lent. This is probably because, when I was young, I never really saw the point. Whatever the case, if someone were to ask me what story or book or verse in the bible I associate with Lent, my answer would be along the lines of a blank stare. However, if someone asked me what rituals or memories I associate with Lent, I could give them a list a mile long. Most years I have dutifully gone without a favorite thing for forty days, from music with dirty lyrics to chips and chocolate to swearing, some of which have been more successful than others, but the most memorable Lent in my spiritual life was the one when I decided not to deprive myself of anything. Deciding what to give up was just too hard. One of my youth group leaders suggested that, instead of taking something out of my life, I add something to it, something special that would show my devotion to God. It seemed like a good idea, so I decided that I would read one chapter in my Bible everyday. That was several years ago, and I’ve forgotten whether I started with the old or new testament, but by Easter I had read more of the Bible than I ever had before, discounting the children’s versions complete with pictures. The amazing thing to me was that it didn’t compromise my daily schedule. All it had taken was a little commitment. So I continued and, over two or three years, succeeded in reading the entire Bible. I still read, though unfortunately to a lesser extent, today. That one Lent three or four years ago was responsible for advancing my spiritual growth and changing my relationship with God. So I lied when I said that I never associate Lent with a set of scriptures. I do; Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21.

Leigha McReynolds is a first year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-18T02:08:00.000-05:00

Matthew 20:20-28

Leaving the Comfort Zone
by Matt Zimmerman

I am constantly impressed by the gifted and talented people I see every week at the Foundation. You are musicians, storytellers, preachers, scholars, teachers, public servants, leaders, scientists, engineers, pastors; and many of you are very good at what you do. I also believe without a doubt you will go out into this world, work hard, and accomplish great things.

Which is why I think that many of you, even if you're not willing to admit it, can relate with James and John. Why shouldn't they be recognized? They were hand selected by Jesus himself, working hard at great personal risk to become pillars of the early Church. What's wrong with being respected for our work and our talents? As I write this devotional, I wish that people will think me a good writer. Do I do wrong for having such a wish?

Some of you may say I do. Maybe we'd prefer to relate with the other apostles. After all, Jesus does say, "Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant". Maybe we're supposed to actively reject recognition. Maybe we're called to defer praise and act embarrassed when we can't avoid it. It's a popular credo for many Christians, perhaps best exemplified by the fictional residents of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon.

But regardless whether we side with James and John, or with the other ten, Jesus reminds us that we've missed the point. In either case, whether we seek or reject honor, our focus is on ourselves and not on God. Recognition for our work is just a fringe benefit; what's important is whether our work glorifies God and serves God's purpose.

Matt Zimmerman is a graduate student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-17T08:22:00.000-05:00

Fear No More
by Sarah Reynolds

'A Hymn to God the Father'
By John Donne

“Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt Thou forgive, that sin through which I run
And do still run, though still I do deplore?
When Thou hast done,
Thou hast not done,
For I have more.
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and my sin their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When Thou hast done,
Thou hast not done,
For I have more.
I have a sin of fear that when I’ve spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
Swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine as He shines now and heretofore;
And, having done that,
Thou hast done,
I fear no more.”

This poem is a song that I am currently singing in Jubilate, and in the few short weeks that I have been singing it, it already has a special significance to me. This is a song about a sin so dark and deep that the author turns to God’s promise of salvation through his son, Jesus Christ. When I first heard this song, it immediately struck a deep chord in me. I was struggling with some difficult decisions and wrestling with a deep sin in which I feared I would not be able to give it up. As the weeks passed, and I was required to memorize the song, I had trouble with the words, and making it stick in my memory. I prayed to God to give me the strength to sing this relatively simple piece. At the next rehearsal, our director offered a simple yet powerful explanation as to why memorizing this piece was so difficult. We realize that we do each have some kind of dark sin dragging us down, and doubt God’s power of forgiveness and grace; this makes us reluctant to sing about such a sin, when we know of such a sin that we all have and cannot seem to get rid of. If we let go of it, and remember God’s promise of salvation through Jesus, memorizing such a song will be all the easier. As you go about your daily life, remember this promise God gave us. If you have difficulty trying to rid yourself of a sin, simply read the poem, and remember that regardless of our trespasses, God still loves us. He sent his only Son to earth to prove that fact, and it well make you “fear no more.”

Sarah Reynolds is a first year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Leaving the Comfort Zone
by Charlie McRaven

Christ calls us to do something very simple: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” “Maybe not so simple” you may say; “how are we to know what that looks like?” Well Christ’s life gives us a perfect example of this. He came to earth to die as a sacrifice for our sins and to allow us a way back to God, but instead of living a quiet life outside of the public eye, He left us a record of how we should live.

All of His actions served God and others, just like He commanded us. He broke down social barriers in love, conversing with the Samaritan woman. He fed five thousand even when His closest friends advised Him to send away the crowd. He cleared the temples with righteous anger when He saw that the house of God was being defiled. He spoke out against the upper class, not out of any desire to upset the social order, but out of an obligation to speak the truth. Jesus was aggressively following His belief in the one, true God, loving Him with all His heart and this partially manifested itself in good works to those around Him.

In modern times we think everything has changed. It’s just not easy to go out and be aggressive for God. But one must examine the reasons for not doing good works. If you believe in Christ, His divinity, and His commands, those beliefs serve as reason to do good, even the slightest good. In light of the sacrifice Jesus made and our reward for true belief any reasons for not doing good are overrun. The world tells you that you should seek to better yourself before others, but Jesus ate with sinners to show them kindness and to correct them even though it “cost” Him socially. The world tells you that your time is money and you have to make money to be happy. How does this hold up against God’s promise of eternity with Him, the creator of joy? It doesn’t and that is what we must realize as Christians. So long as we constantly go back and review God’s message to us, we will see that the things holding us back from living out our faith are trivial.

Why do these barriers seem so insurmountable? Over time the human race has found great comfort in stagnancy, progress has always been opposed just as strongly as changes for the worse. That is why Christianity is so radical; it is a huge change for the better and it scares people. Besides this, there is an entity completely geared on keeping humanity content in its godlessness and that entity, Satan, uses fear to keep the world from accepting Christ. He has convinced the world that following God is paramount to abandoning all of life’s pleasures for something worse, something that does not even exist. He harps on this point over and over when we do not think to be on the look out for him and the next thing we know, we find it hard to go against the grain and do something extraordinary: leave your comfort zone and give your life to Christ.

This is not to say that the things of this world are useless. They have their place and their worth, but it is not their true value that is being presented to us by Satan. Consider this: the rewards for following God are plain, but one has to seek them in His word to find them and to truly know them. God does not seek to trick us into belief; He does not impose Himself on us, but He encourages us to seek truth in the Bible and to make our decision based on what we find. On the other hand, Satan constantly batters our minds with lies about the importance of things that lose meaning after we undergo physical death. Which of the two would you rather follow? When we step back and look at the question, we all realize what we would choose.

We should live with this decision constantly on our minds.

Charlie McRaven is a freshman at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

2004-03-15T07:49:00.000-05:00

Luke 11:1-13
Closer to God with Prayer
by Corinna Grenfell

Lent is a special time of the year where we can focus on what is keeping us from our relationship with God and how to become closer to the Lord. Everyone can come closer to God through prayer. Today, focus on making the most of prayer. Not just praying because it is habit or you feel an obligation, but pray because you want to! Say the Lord’s Prayer and think about the meaning of what you’re saying. So often we say it out of memory and don’t say it with the splendor it deserves.

“Father, hallowed by your name” think about how great God’s name is.

“Your kingdom come” envision the great kingdom of heaven.

“Forgive us our sins” wow, this is just overwhelming that our sins are forgiven, consider about how hard it is to forgive a friend who really hurt you and then realize what a great gift this is.

“For we also forgive everyone who sins against us” try to really forgive those who you feel worthy and those who you don’t feel worthy of forgiveness. Make today a day of forgiveness.

“And lead us not into temptation” believe this when you say it, lead us not into temptation. There are so many temptations in our lives, today focus on the one of two that are the hardest for you to stay away from and ask God to specifically not lead you there.

After you finish praying the Lord’s prayer, sit in silence and listen for God. Learn how to make such a familiar prayer extraordinary again!

Corinna Grenfell is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-14T10:02:00.000-05:00

Apologies for the lack of updates the past week. I was on a spring break mission trip to Fort Yuma, California. It was an amazing experience and I hope that you will forgive me for not posting the devotions as planned. Thanks, Brian Lee.

2004-03-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 12:27 - 13:3
Are You Doing It With Love?
by Brantley Craig

At some time, we all have to face it: the putting together of a resume. Whether it’s for our first job or our last, we have to put down everything we’ve done or are qualified to do, usually in as few pages as possible. For something that’s essentially a list, we spend a lot of time and energy on resumes. There are books, lectures, and websites dedicated to telling us how to design the best one possible. What do we list? How far can we (or should we) stretch the truth? Who do we list as references? What font should we use, and what paper? How shall we best boil down our education, experiences, talents, and personality into one document?

It’s ridiculous, of course. There’s no way to capture a person on paper. Nonetheless, we try. It’s an impulse I think the church members Paul addresses at Corinth would understand. The Corinthians were a competitive bunch, each trying to see who had the best spiritual resume. They argued over who had been baptized by the more influential apostle. They argued over who had the best knowledge of the gospel. They argued over whether it was better to marry or stay celibate, whether it was better to eat food with pagans or to abstain, and how one should dress in church. Each one was trying to prove that their experiences, thoughts, and talents made him or her the strongest Christian. The Corinthians checked off spiritual gifts the way we check off classes and internships.

Paul, however, isn’t having any of this. God is not conducting a job search; there are plenty of openings in the Kingdom of Heaven. There is room for all manner of talents and qualifications, Paul explains. Not everyone can be an apostle or a prophet, nor should they want to be. What does it matter if you speak in tongues, while your neighbor in the pew has the gift of healing? Gifts and talents are great, according to Paul, but there is “a more excellent way.” That way is love. Whatever you can do, do it with love, Paul writes. The most impressive gift is nothing if it isn’t used with love. The Apostle more or less says, “So, Corinthians...you know angel language and are giving up stuff not just for Lent, but every day. Very nice. But are you doing it with love?”

We don’t know how the Corinthians responded to this, but I can imagine how shocked I would be if a potential employer looked over my resume and said, “Very nice...but did you do all these things with love?” As we go through Lent, and through our daily lives, doing whatever it is we think we need to do, it seems like that’s a very good question indeed.

Brantley Craig is a graduate student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 86
God’s Power and Love Recognized
by Eddie Jobe

I believe that Psalm 86 speaks to us about the necessity for us to recognize both the power and the love that the Lord bestows to us.

In the first two verses of Psalm 86, David prays, “Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.”
Many times while we try to live our own lives, we often forget that we are God’s people. We can become devoted solely to ourselves and focus on our own needs and not the needs of others. The message to us from these first two verses of Psalm 86 are two-fold: first, when we are needy, we must turn to the power of God, believing that he will protect us; second, when we forget who we truly are, God’s children, we must ask the Lord to answer our needy spirit to help us recognize His will.

In verse 7, David says, “In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.”

We must remember our strongest weapon against the foes of everyday life is our spirituality. With a believing spirit, we have the ability to ask the Lord to give us strength to help us make it through the difficult times. God loves us, and we must believe that he will bestow that love upon us by hearing our pleas.

Finally, in verse 15, David proclaims, “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” If we look to God, he looks back upon us with grace.

I believe that the Lord’s power and love allows us to be. He gives us the chance to redeem ourselves when we do unjust actions, and he forgives our sins when we ask for them. God portrays his love through all men and women who work to make a positive difference in the world. He gives us the ability to love so that we care for our neighbor. He allows those who are needy and ask for help to be assisted by those who are willing to aid them.

Thanks be to the Lord.

Eddie Jobe is a second year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 1:13-16
Holiness of Heart and Life
by David Vaughan

Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” –1 Peter 1:13-16

In exploring ways that churchgoers might begin to unravel and embrace the mystery of salvation through Christ’s grace, John Wesley declared that “true Christianity consists, not in a set of options, or of forms and ceremonies, but in holiness of heart and life.” This same wisdom, the conviction that personal and social holiness provide clear opportunities for people of faith to encounter God within themselves and in the world around them, is at work in the ancient tradition of Christian fasting, particularly during Lent. As we transition from the season of revelation and light which is Epiphany to the Lenten season of shadow and expectation, we find ourselves needing to focus all our attention on the story of Jesus’s life and passion. The practice of Lenten fasting, giving up a particular habit or act during the weeks leading up to Christ’s resurrection on Easter, allows us to direct our entire being toward our Lord, as it invites us to remember that God is present in all we do and that it is God alone who can ultimately meet our desires and fill our needs. The fast clarifies the individual’s sense of chosen-ness and worth and unifies the fasting community, in which believers are called upon to hold one another accountable in their commitment to this spiritual discipline. During this Lenten season, may you be encouraged in your own fast, striving to be holy, as Christ first has been holy.

David Vaughan is a third year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

John 8:1-11
Humbled Transformation
by April Meadows

Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

This passage has always been one of my favorites. It is a beautiful story of forgiveness and grace. As I was rereading these verses tonight I began to see the story as one of transformation, a story of change. We do not know all of this woman’s story. We only know that she was brought before Jesus broken and ashamed. We know that Jesus accepted her as she was and offered no condemnation. John does not tell us what happened to this woman after she left Jesus. I can’t help but believe that she left that place different than when she arrived. As I was doing some reading on the season of Lent, I came across an essay in which the writer described Lent as a time “to strip ourselves bare of all pretense to righteousness, to come before God in dust and ashes.” It is a time when we recognize our inadequacies and come to God as the needy people that we are. The woman in the story above came to Jesus humbled and broken, and I believe that her encounter with Jesus that day left her a changed person. When we come before God in the same way, humbled and empty, we too can experience this transformation that he offers. I pray that during this Lenten season we allow God to use the brokenness of our lives to change us into the people he has called us to be.

April Meadows is a third year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Price of Redemption
by Conor Donahue

They say that near death experiences make you treasure even the smallest of life’s gifts with an unmatched intensity. No longer are little things overlooked, no longer are the good things of life chalked up as something we are owed or deserve for some unknown reason.

Similarly then, coming close to Passion and Death of the Creator and Savior of the world should help us to value the purpose it served. Meditating and reflecting on Christ’s sufferings is essential for rejoicing and appreciating His gift of Redemption.

As one looks at a skyscraper one can reflect on the thousands of hours of labor spent in the planning, construction, and maintenance of such an immense structure. Clearly knowing this, one has a greater appreciation for the high price of time, talents, and treasure that had to be sacrificed for such a project to be completed.

As one looks at the holy project of fallen man’s redemption one can reflect on the agony, scourging, and crucifixion of the Son of Man. Through this one gains a better understanding of just how steep a price Christ paid for us. By grasping the price of redemption we can better comprehend the depth of Christ’s love for each one of us. He, who could have redeemed the world with a single drop of the Precious Blood, endured unspeakable pain and suffering.

Why?

Because, in His eyes, we are worth paying that price.

Lent and its emphasis on Christ’s suffering and self-mortification practices are not ultimately meant to depress us. Rather it serves to prepare us for Christ’s Resurrection. By taking up our own small crosses during this season and dying to ourselves for Christ’s sake we will be able to treasure the gift of Redemption with an unmatched intensity. It is the dying Christ that gives meaning to the Risen Christ. It is dying to oneself, through mortification, prayer, and fasting that gives meaning to new life in Christ’s Resurrection.

Conor Donahue is a third year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Surveying the Wondrous Cross
by Peter Ohlms

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
----------------------------------------------
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
…
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!

The verse that inspired Isaac Watts to write this well-known hymn is Galatians 6:14: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (NIV). Charles Wesley reportedly said he would give up all his other hymns to have written this one. Although the text was composed nearly 300 years ago, it is still relevant to us today, especially in the season of Lent.

Take a moment to “survey the wondrous cross” as Watts does in the first stanza. Contemplate the cross’s significance and its power, and think about what can make “wondrous” something that was ordinarily symbolic of death. It represents Christ’s death in place of sinners – the ultimate sacrifice. Aren’t all other earthly achievements, things that we’re proud of, insignificant in comparison to this achievement?

The second stanza is especially appropriate for the season of Lent. Many people choose to give up something for Lent to remind themselves of the sacrifice of Christ (or, in the language of the hymn, sacrificing to His blood all – or at least some – of the vain things that charm us most). Continue to think about this sinless man who was put to death and what that event has given you personally… what can you give back as thanks?

Now contemplate the last four lines of the hymn. Imagine giving a gift to God, just a little token of your gratitude for salvation: all the mountains, valleys, and seas, all the animals – “the whole realm of nature.” Even that would not equal the gift of eternal life. So what can we offer to God as a thank-you gift? God’s love demands only you, your complete and undying loyalty and service. You can offer God thanks for his gift to you by the way you choose to live your life. Take a moment to pray about this. Be still and listen to God – He demands nothing more, and nothing less, than your soul… your life… your all.

Peter Ohlms is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Who God Wants You to Be?
by Catherine Bauman

Lent is a very special time in the life of the church. Many people recognize Lent by giving up something they are accustomed to having like television, chocolate, or soda. People of all ages realize that this is a unique time as ashes are used to draw a cross on their forehead or palm branches are used in the service.
We have gone through Lent many times before as children, teenagers, and now young adults. What makes this year different? We are constantly learning, studying, and praying for God to lead us, teach us, and help us. Coming into Lent this year is different because we are a changed people with a different background, new problems, new struggles, and a fresh outlook. As you read your Bible, attend Church, pray, and listen to God, think about who God wants you to be. Remember the 40 days Jesus spent wandering in the wilderness and think about what is tempting you and keeping you away from Christ. Look at this new church season as a time for discovery and change. To me, Lent is a time to reflect and begin a new life.

Catherine Bauman is a first year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-05T00:10:00.000-05:00

Luke 15:11-32
Change in Direction
by Deborah Lewis

My favorite part of this story is when the prodigal son is described with the words “he came to himself” (v.17). I have a vivid picture of him slopping around with the pigs, hungrily and enviously eyeing their food. I mean, he is jealous of the pigs! He has been standing in slop, smelling the pig stench, and salivating over pig-grade pea pods. In modern parlance, we might say he is “not in a good place.”

But this is the moment God reorients him. This is the moment he wakes up from the nightmare life he has chosen, stops telling himself lies, and begins listening for the truth. This is the hinge for the story, the turning point when he walks off in the opposite direction, away from his crazy schemes and back towards his true home, his true self. He came to himself.

Lent is a good time for changing direction. Spend time these 40 days watching and listening for where God is urging you to come to yourself and how God is reorienting you. No matter the pig sty or dorm room, God can find you and change your heart. This is a long, slow, deliberate season designed to bring us back home.

Prayer:
God, I have trouble sometimes telling the difference between a crazy scheme and your still small voice. Give me the discipline to listen for you when I am tempted to talk instead. Give me the patience to hear what you are calling me to and the strength to say, “Here I am, Lord!” Stay by my side on this long journey towards the promise of Easter. Amen.

Deborah Lewis is the Assistant Director of the Wesley Foundation United Methodist Campus Ministry at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-04T00:09:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 11:27-29
The Miraculous Gift of Communion
by Bethany Davis

My father is Anglican. Each Sunday morning his church celebrates the Mass, the Holy Eucharist. The service is the same each week, save for varying hymns and prayers. I appreciate this predictability, this routine. Reciting the same centuries old prayers and invocations spoken by Christians throughout the world appeals to me. It has taken time and patience to learn the different emphases and nuances of this formal worship style. But one difference drew me and I embraced it immediately. The focal point and critical element each Sunday is receiving Holy Eucharist, but before members receive the Body and Blood of Christ, they must ready themselves…they must prepare.

First, members fast on Sunday mornings to physically prepare themselves for the Eucharist. During the service, the congregation praises and worships then communally prepares by remembering theirs sins and asking God’s forgiveness. The prayers are humbling, serious, and filled with commitment and honesty. Half of the service is time for formal preparation, repentance and remembering the meaning of the Eucharist. Before attending my first Anglican Mass, I had never concentrated so intently on preparing myself both spiritually and physically to take communion. It has impacted my worship practices tremendously. It has helped me begin to realize the miraculous gift we partake of when receiving communion. I no longer take for granted the bread and wine, for that would be taking the Body and Blood of Christ and His act of salvation for granted.

In 1 Corinthians, chapter 11 verses 27-29, Paul urges the faithful of Corinth not to eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord “unworthily.” He directs them to “examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.”

During Lent, think carefully of the meaning of and reasons for Holy Communion. It is not simply eating and drinking bread and wine. It is partaking of the body of Christ; it forgives, unifies, celebrates and honors. And try to ‘prepare’ yourself before receiving Holy Communion in a way that is meaningful to you.

Bethany Davis is a fourth year at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-03T00:08:00.000-05:00

To Keep a True Lent
by Gary Robbins

“…the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live (Deuteronomy 30:6).”

Too often, we only think about Lent in terms of forbidden foods or external sacrifices. But is that all that there is to Lent? What would it mean to keep a true Lent?
That was a question that Robert Herrick, the English poet, asked over three hundred years ago. Listen to his answer:

To Keep a True Lent

Is this a Fast, to keep
The larder lean?
And clean
From fat of veals and sheep?

Is it to quit the dish
Of flesh, yet still
To fill
The platter high with fish?

Is it to fast an hour,
Or ragg’d go,
Or show
A downcast look, and sour?

No; tis a fast to dole
Thy sheaf of wheat,
And meat,
Unto the hungry soul.

It is to fast from strife,
From old debate,
And hate;
To circumcise thy life.

To show a heart grief-rent;
To starve thy sin,
Not bin;
And that’s to keep thy Lent.

That’s not a bad way of keeping Lent—attending to the hungers of our souls, letting go of old disputes, ridding ourselves of hatred and strife, cutting away that which is unyielding, pretentious, or tawdry.

God, help us to keep a true Lent.

The Reverend Gary Robbins is the pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

2004-03-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 51

The Point
By Chris Gibson

“Help me to speak
and I will praise you, Lord
Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want
The way to please you
is to fell sorrow
deep in our hearts
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won’t refuse”

Psalms 51 talks of forgiveness, which is important part of Easter. It says that God wants us to make spiritual sacrifice and not physical sacrifice.

So why is it that some see Lent as sacrificing one indulgent until Good Friday and not about forgiveness?

While there is much about Easter that people analyze, most people only see Lent as a chance for physical sacrifice. But the Bible says God prefers spiritual guidance. So why do we follow Lent? Is it a conspiracy by chocolate companies to remind us why chocolate is so great? Instead, it is a chance to realize we probably think about chocolate more than about Good Friday.

Noah spent 40 days in confinement without any of the usual comforts to think about his religion. Lent gives us our own 40 days to remember our devotion without floods (or chocolate.)

Every painstaking day without chocolate reminds us Good Friday is approaching. Lent is the lead up to the answer of Jesus’ purpose in changing our lives. So while God doesn’t disapprove of chocolate, sacrifices like this will hopefully help us to that point where we can ask God for forgiveness and help us remember Jesus is about to make his greatest sacrifice:

What Jesus had to do save us.

Chris Gibson is a second year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-03-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

An Ultimate Paradox
By Kevin Michael Derby

Lent opened this year with fog and cold rain and the sky proved ash colored on this Ash Wednesday. The foul weather hung over us and worsened our grim moods. Mirroring the ashes on our foreheads, dark marks hung under our eyes since few could sleep the night before. February is never kind in the Sierra Mountains as the nights pass with winds howling like banshees outside the bedroom windows.

Lent is a time for repentance, to dwell on our sins, and nature helps us on these darker meditations. Snow has by now lost its magic which so enthralled us only weeks before. Dirty and frozen, the snow now stays in giant clumps on the cold ground. To avoid the snow, you step in the mud. Soon you find yourself up to your ankles in its filth.

Yes, this is a good time to dwell on your sins and the mistakes of the past. Silences last longer in the mountains, leaving you to rummage through your own thoughts for entertainment. Inevitably the painful shadows of the past rise and plague your mind.

Yet, in an ultimate paradox, this is a time of hope for there remains the promise, the covenant of redemption. The days grow longer and the nights grow shorter. The winds die down and green buds appear through the snow and on the naked trees. The sun warms us until finally the world is reborn with the Savior who died because He loved us so. The newly returned birds sing a chorus to lift our moods and join in our rejoicing.

Lent is a time for repentance. Dark days haunt us now and will haunt us for the next few weeks. But at the end of our forty days of wandering through the purgatory of cold, muddy darkness, the light and joys of life are waiting for us. That is the answer to the riddle of this time of ashes and filth. Despite all our flaws, all our sins, all our faults, He loved us so that He died for us and returned to life for us. He lives still.

At the end of our pilgrimage of forty days, we remember His death and His return. And we rejoice.

Kevin Michael Derby is the director of student services and registrar at Morrison University.

2004-02-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Phil. 4:10-20
Acknowledgment of the Philippians? Gift?
By John Wade

The title of this scripture is Acknowledgment of the Philippians? Gift?, but one could almost think of it as the acknowledgement of God’s gift.

I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.

During our lives, we have been on track and we have been lost. We have felt pain and joy, happiness and sorrow; we have followed the right path but at other times gone astray and sinned.

I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied now that I have received the gifts. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory Christ Jesus.

However, God will give us what we need. It may not be what we want, for we will be hungry for knowledge and thirsty for happiness at times, but it will fill our stomachs, our souls, with what we need. There is a different between a want and a need, and God will come to fulfill our needs and make us better people, acting through our own trial and tribulation.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

John Wade is a second year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-02-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Nothing But Abundant Love
By Christian Miller

I heard this story from a friend the other day:

After much despair, a man standing on the edge of a great river decides that he has wronged too many people and that his life is just not worth living anymore. Without hesitation, he flings himself into the river, which pulls him towards his death over a raging waterfall. At the last minute the man realizes that he has been a fool and wishes to change what he has done. He realizes that he does not want to die and frantically grabs onto a rock sticking out of the water. Another man on land sees him and calls for help. Rescue workers strain and endanger themselves for his rescue. The man slips and begins to head toward the falls. He grabs onto another rock. Finally, with a rope attached to him, a rescue worker dives into the waters and grabs tight of the man as the frigid rapids crash over his body. The man is pulled onto dry land. Later, after sitting a little way off the shore, staring out at the river and reflecting upon what had just happened, he goes over to the rescue workers and asks them why they would risk themselves to save him. He has done so many wrong things in his life and hurt so many people and he just wasn't worth it. Almost immediately, one man replies, saying, "I did not save you for who you are, I saved you because of who I am. I was called to save you, so I did."

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in a creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
(Romans 8: 38&39)

I love this verse so much, and after hearing this story, it spoke to me all the more. The part that touches me the most about this verse is the last part where it says, “the love of God in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.” There is so much packed in that little phrase: God made a pact of love with us. He sent His glorious Son to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus shed his blood out of His amazing love for us, and in that, an almighty gracious covenant was made that can never be broken. God will never break his promise with us. But still, sometimes, I forget the infallible strength of this pact, and I think about myself and how much I fall short of God’s will. But God is so much bigger than us. My challenge to you, in this time of devotion, is to not focus on yourself and the things going on around you, in your life. We are never going to deserve God’s love, and that’s all that focusing on these things will show you. But, when we come to the point where we realize that, and we look up instead of around us, that is when we see God and Jesus and the abundant love they have for us. Beloved, you are so beautiful, and God’s love is abundantly there for you, no matter what. He doesn’t love us because of what we do or have done, good or bad, nor is our salvation based on this; He loves us because He is love (1 John 4:16), and He looks past our sin with heavenly, loving and gentle eyes to see a beautiful creation that is His, and will always be His. O gracious and almighty Father, all praises be to You, the King of Kings, forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Miller is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia.

2004-02-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Amos 5:15
Hate Evil and Love Good
By Kristi Campbell

"Hate evil and love good..." Well this seems simple enough in theory, but in practice it can be quite complex. "What is evil? Define good." These questions aren't easily answered without studying scripture and actively seeking the answers to these questions. Even then the answers are not always clear. So is there any hope that we can follow the simple advice of hating evil and loving good? Well, without Jesus, the answer is a depressing, "no". However, since God sent Jesus to forgive believers of their sins, there is a lot of hope. Try to hate evil and love good, but if you should fall short, ask Jesus for forgiveness. In summary, during this Lenten season be conscious of your thoughts and deeds, making sure they're in accordance with scripture and your conscience.

Kristi Campbell is a graduate (Class of 2003) of the University of Virginia.

2004-02-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Skittles and Sacrifice
By Christian Braunlich

I’ve been giving up something for Lent since I was a little kid. It was what you’re supposed to do, I was told, and so I just sort of did it, without really thinking about it. Eventually, I began to think about why this tradition of Lenten sacrifice existed, and why I should continue to do it. After all, if I could give up something that I didn’t need for 40 days, why shouldn’t I have to give it up forever? Or why shouldn’t I just give it up of my own accord? After some reflection, I decided that both of those questions were indicative of a shortsighted understanding of why I was giving things up for Lent. The purpose of giving up, say, Skittles, was to take something that I didn’t need out of my life during Lent. The more important question, though, is why I should abstain from something during Lent. Certainly part of the reason is to live a life with less possessions and less attachment to material objects. I think what’s more important, though, is what happens when you give up something you’ve become accustomed to. For me, Lenten sacrifice is a way to focus on the events of Lent, and the event that is about to be celebrated, Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us.

The focus that comes through sacrifice is generated in more than one way. In one sense, making a sacrifice is a way of slapping myself in the face. It forces me to think about why I would make a sacrifice, and about the sacrifices that have been made for me. In another sense, though, removing something that I don’t need from my life clears my mind. It helps my thoughts to flow a little bit more freely, enabling better reflection. Lent should be a time for great reflection. Many things are happening during this time of year. In religious terms, the entire body of the church is preparing to celebrate the culmination of Jesus’ time on Earth. His death and resurrection are the fulfillment of prophecy and serve as an affirmation of His power over us and over all the Earth. In South Bend and Alexandria, the only two places I have ever called home, spring is coming into bloom. Nature’s re-birth has always given me pause to think about the wonder of God’s creation, and the power of nature’s cycle from death to life. Lent is a time for me to clear my soul and open my heart to God’s mysteries.

As a kid, Lent was always about sacrifice. Recently, though, something that I’ve been trying to do is add things to my daily routine in addition to taking things out of that routine. I’ve found that extra prayer, time alone to think, and trips to the grotto on campus have given me another avenue to open myself up to God. I don’t know that more prayer would have helped me when I was younger. Only recently have I begun to take prayer seriously and really tried to open up conversation with the Lord. It now serves a valuable role in the spiritual aspect of my life, providing an outlet for my thoughts and a way to clear my mind and cleanse my soul. Sacrificing that which I don’t need and spending more time doing things that I do need helps to bring me closer to God and prepare me to celebrate His Son’s sacrifice, a sacrifice that He made for me and for all of us.

Christian Braunlich is a senior at the University of Notre Dame.