This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Lent is in full swing. Traditionally, Lent is a time in which we both give things up and take things on. In terms of giving up, the church asks for us to fast from things that pull us away from our relationships with God and neighbor. In terms of taking things on, the church invites us to take on practices that draw us into a better relationship with God and neighbor. Give up that which pushes us away, take on that which draws us near.

Are there things that draw you away from loved ones, either intentionally or unintentionally? Perhaps it's that extra drink that numbs you just enough to dull the stress of the day, but that same numbness keeps you from fully engaging with your loved ones. Perhaps it's mindless scrolling, disengagement that steals minutes to hours with each swipe of the thumb. Perhaps it's something else. 

From the beginning of Christianity, the church has, during this time of Lent, called us to a period of self-examination. We are called to examine our lives, our conscience, and our behaviors, removing those things that keep us from being the person that God has called us to be. Lent was never meant to be a time of guilt or shame, but rather a time of growth.

I am willing to bet that in order to grow, we each have some things that we could shed.

In Christ,

Mitch