Submitted by Brad Inglis
I love a celebration! Any excuse to celebrate is reason enough for me. I once met an elderly couple who had been married for over 50 years. They told me that for their first anniversary, they had very little money but were in need of a new washing machine. So that was their anniversary gift to each other. And that night, they set up their romantic, candle light anniversary dinner right there on their new washer. Their message to me was, celebrate everything in life. Here on the Bruce, the days are getting longer, winter has been pretty gentle with us and spring is right around the corner. That is reason enough for me to celebrate.
As we enter the season of Lent, the Christian tradition is to give something up as a sign of sacrifice and humbling ourselves. Often folks will give up chocolate or alcohol or dessert. I usually give up exercise and try to move as little as possible throughout the 40 days of Lent. Having said that, what about stepping outside of our comfort zone and trying something different? What about taking up the voice of encouragement and gratitude? What would that look like? Making a call, sending an email, handwriting a note to someone who has touched your life but you haven’t connected with in a long time. Making a real point of thanking one of the cashiers at Peacock’s for waiting on you. Sending a note to each of your grandchildren telling them how much they mean to you. Buying someone a coffee. Take some baking into the clinic staff, or the post office even though it isn’t Christmas. Make a random donation to the Legion for all of their community efforts, take the neighbour who doesn’t get out, for a ride down to Lion’s Head. Call me, I can easily give you 40 ideas for reaching out for every day of Lent! It’s a wonderful idea/excuse for lifting someone up, just because…
One of our parishioners is challenging other folks to set aside a box, and for each of the 40 days of Lent, add one food item or toothpaste, deodorant, box of Band-Aids, shampoo, any useful item and deliver the box with the 40 items to the Food Bank. The early spring months can be particularly challenging for folks who have finished their EI and are waiting for work to start again. Lent is so much more than just 40 days of walking through the desert. It’s about surviving the desert and making sure that everyone around you does too.
Don’t forget that World Day of Prayer will be hosted by the Anglican Churches of the Bruce this year and held at Christ Church in Lion’s Head, Friday March 6th at 1:30pm. All are welcome and this year we celebrate the women of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The theme is “Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk”.
Here’s hoping that, that Wiarton Gofer is right and spring is on its way!
Brad Inglis is the minister at Tobermory United Church. He can be reached at binglis2@me.com
www.tobermoryunited.ca
