Business as usual?

Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.
 –Oscar Wilde


In our Christian faith, for the past forty days (plus Sundays) we have been observing the period of Lent. We have remembered and reflected on Jesus’ life, ministry and death. For forty days, or roughly 10% of a year, many have made a tithe of our lives by giving up something we felt overly dependent upon, or perhaps added an extra gift of our time to charity or service.

Now, Easter is upon us. The period of abstinence, reflection and remembrance is behind us as we celebrate Christ’s victory over death, once—for ALL. (That means each and all of us.)

So now what?

Perhaps for the last forty days you have given up chocolate, or swearing, or social media. What happens today, and tomorrow? Has your heart been changed, as well, and left you with a renewed sense of discipline in your life? Will you continue with that “something extra”? Maybe even add a bit more?

In other words, have these forty days been an exercise, or a truly transforming experience along your faith journey? Only you can answer that. And only you know what tomorrow brings.


Monday For some, the “standard of giving” is a tithe, or 10%. Reflect for a moment on a typical day. Do you tithe your time to the Almighty? Esther 4:12-14

Tuesday Pause today in front of a mirror. Look at yourself through God’s eyes. See only with love. Be thankful and rest. Ezekiel 31:2-9

Wednesday Flowers! We have flowers! Stop for a moment and gaze deeply at one of these lovely gifts from God. Give thanks. Matthew 6:28-33

Thursday When was the last time you thought about the complex beauty of your physical body and the way it works? Pause and listen: to your fingers snapping, your heart beating, your tummy growling. Psalm139:14-16

Friday What is one of your attributes that you consider a unique part of who you are? Your voice? Your smile? The way you roll your eyes? (Ha!) This, too, is part of the way the Creator created you. Give thanks. Colossians 1:15-17

Saturday We have been self-focused all week; now, look around you, at the person next door or at the next table. See through God’s eyes. Pause and pray for another. Song of Songs 5:10

Sunday Greet one another this morning in holy love. Rejoice and be glad for the wonder of your church home and family. John 21:15-18

The heart is stretched through suffering, and enlarged.
But O the agony of this enlarging of the heart,
that one may be prepared to enter into the anguish of others!

--Thomas R. Kelly

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