Lenten Reflection – by Leon Taylor

Now that we are into the Lenten season, most have made a decision on how they will observe Lent. For those who have yet to make a choice, but do not favor fasting or abstinence, there are still many options. The following are a few.

1. Perform random acts of kindness each day. Give a “good morning” greeting, allow an auto trying to enter a crowded freeway to enter, comfort someone who has need of a sympathetic ear. These seem like simple actions, but could be the one positive thing that brightens the recipient’s day.
2. Make peace with someone you have wronged or have issues. Possibly you may apologize even if you feel you were in the right.
3. Visit someone who is sick, lonely, aged, or incarcerated. A phone call or other electronic communication may suffice if an in person visit is not possible.
4. Serve people in need. This includes giving to charity, helping at homeless shelters, feeding the hungry, and advocating for the underserved and those considered alien. – Christ calls to task on this: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me”-Matthew 25: 45.
5. Tell others you love them. This can be done with words and/ or deeds. Otherwise how will they know? “A new commandment I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another.” -John 13: 34- 35.
6. Serve in worship. Consider serving on one of the church departments, committees, or related organizations. Become an usher, greeter or a communion server. Join the choir, the bell choir, stand and sing for justice. The opportunities are almost endless.
7. Study in depth, one book of the bible. This entails more than merely reading, but reading with understanding. Knowledge of the culture and times is of value. A book of choice would be one of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” — II Timothy 2: 15.
8. Pray, pray without ceasing.

(Thanks to Joe Iovino for inspiring this reflection)
— By Leon Taylor