Check Engine: Lent

I love my job.  But to be honest.  The last few days at work, I feel as though my mind is a whirl wind of information, responsibilities, tasks, ideas, etc. etc.  At a weekly meeting today, I felt as though I was in the middle of a passionate whirlwind of a discussion, and honestly felt as though there was a lot, A LOT, of talking...but I still don't know what was actually SAID.

Therefore, I was SO SO ready to head to Ash Wednesday service at Easter Lutheran.  On my drive to church I was CRAVING the peace, love, warmth, and clarity I experience when attending service.  I'll admit my faith hasn't been at the top of my to do list lately, with work, family events, and...life...and I truly have been missing it in my life.

Tonight, Pastor Paul gave a great sermon that focused on Apps.  No not the ones at Applebee's that are half price after 9pm.  Applications.  It seems to have become a buzz word in today's society.  There is an APP for pretty much everything.  He told an anecdote, of a company that has the ability to provide you with an APP that can, throughout the day update your net worth.  Depending on the housing market, the stock exchange, your bank accounts, your assets...it gives you, your net worth.  But what about all those intangibles he asked.  My social, spiritual, and community worth.  How do we know how we are doing in regards to those.  Now THAT we could use an APP for. Lent, as he explained, gives us Christians an opportunity to check in with how we are doing in the areas of faith and community.

This couldn't be a more timely season in the faith community for me.  I'm in need of checking in with myself on how I'm doing in my faith journey and my contributions to the greater good.  So when I turned my car on today, I can't say I was surprised to see that check engine light on.  I think my internal faith check engine light is on, and asking for attention. 

When thinking about blogging about today and Ash Wednesday, I thought I would explain my plan for addressing my "faith check engine light"; until we explored one of the passages this evening.  Matthew Chapter 6.  Thought this was a good reminder for everyone with special intentions for Lent.

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.   

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.   

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."