Eric, I thought I was alone in my recently acquired discomfort with the actions/mind sets of inflicting burdens upon ourselves associated with Lent, in the light of God’s lavish, overwhelming, and exuberant love for us. The only thing that makes sense in approaching the Great Mystery is an increase in one’s own generosity, tenderness, and joy - and it happens organically as we allow our God to love us!
Thanks, Ann! I love this. I think you're right. The self-inflicted suffering seems almost redundant these days. How can we instead live more simply, intentionally, allow ourselves to shed some of our over-the-top comforts so as to enter more deeply into solidarity with others? That's the balancing act I always struggle with (well...just doing it is a struggle! THEN balancing...)... How to embrace the God of abundance while also living simply?
Eric, I thought I was alone in my recently acquired discomfort with the actions/mind sets of inflicting burdens upon ourselves associated with Lent, in the light of God’s lavish, overwhelming, and exuberant love for us. The only thing that makes sense in approaching the Great Mystery is an increase in one’s own generosity, tenderness, and joy - and it happens organically as we allow our God to love us!
Thanks, Ann! I love this. I think you're right. The self-inflicted suffering seems almost redundant these days. How can we instead live more simply, intentionally, allow ourselves to shed some of our over-the-top comforts so as to enter more deeply into solidarity with others? That's the balancing act I always struggle with (well...just doing it is a struggle! THEN balancing...)... How to embrace the God of abundance while also living simply?