This coming Wednesday is also known as Ash Wednesday in Western Christin traditions. It is the first day of Lent, a season of meditation and preparation for what will ultimately be Jesus Christ's greatest sacrifice and triumph.
Henri Nouwen is a Roman Catholic priest and psychologist who came to the United States in 1964 from Holland. He has written numerous books and is primarily known for his exploration of the spiritual journey. The following excerpts about true integrity in ministry come from The Living Reminder.
"Ministry is service in the name of the Lord. It is bringing the good news to the poor, proclaiming liberty to captives and new sight to the blind, setting the downtrodden free and announcing the Lord's year of favor (Luke 4:18). Spirituality is attention to the life of the spirit in us; it is going out to the desert or up to the mountain to pray; it is standing before the Lord with open heart and open mind; it is crying out, "Abba, Father"; it is contemplating the unspeakable beauty of our loving God."
"We have fallen into the temptation of separating ministry from spirituality, service from prayer. Our demon says: "We are too busy to pray; we have too many needs to attend to, too many people to respond to, too many wounds to heal. Prayer is a luxury, something to do during a free hour, a day away from work or on a retreat."
Lent is one answer to these temptations. Starting something positive, like a morning devotion, or ending something negative, like eating poorly, can be a first step towards getting your priorities back on track.
Join us on Wednesday at 6:00 for an Ash Wednesday service at central UMC in Decatur, Alabama. Let us help you center your thoughts and prayers on God and His Will for this new lenten season.
Grace and Peace,
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