For me, over the years that work has included cooking meals at House of Ruth, renovation work on Partner Arms housing, and the holiday clothing and gift drives for needy families, as part of the Outreach Committee activities; checking on, visiting and cooking the occasional meal for those needing some Pastoral Care; filling in at the parish office answering phones and doing essential office work; greeting members and helping make visitors feel welcome; working with my foyer dinner group to produce the first in-house St. Thomas' directory and various other parish, community and social activities.  Basically, giving of my time and my talent and my money to the extent circumstances permit.  All of these activities have been personally rewarding and in keeping with a message of living the Gospel in our daily lives.

Last year I changed my focus a bit to the more spiritual aspect when I participated in the Kerygma bible study.  My motivation was simple.  The movement by religious extremists that sought to present their views as the views of all people of faith compelled me to do something to educate myself so I could knowledgeably speak out in opposition to their warped and distorted beliefs.  Then, last month my sister-in-law forwarded one of those conservative email diatribes saying that it was like this person had read her mind, and asked the long list of recipients if they felt the same way.  Well, the opening sentence of my reply was, wasn't reading my mind, and it went on from there. Today that recipient list clearly knows my views because the bible study open my eyes and empowered me to respond in a way I could not have and would not have done two years ago.  But I have benefited in unexpected ways as well.  I frequently hear passages during the Sunday readings that we discussed in bible study.  Now I have a better understanding of the message.  And if you have ever wondered what the bible really says about homosexuality, take the time to read John Dwyer's well researched book,  Those 7 References - A Study of 7 References to Homosexuality in The Bible.

So if you are not already out doing the work that God has given you to do, whether it is participating in a community service project, attending a bible study, or speaking a message of love, acceptance and forgiveness, in contrast to those who speak condemnation, hatred and intolerance, I encourage you to try it sometime.  You just might be pleasantly surprised by how fulfilling doing God's work can be.

And what better time to start than during Lent?  In most Christian denominations, Lent is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter.  The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where, according to the Bible, he endured temptation by Satan.  The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer-through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial-for the annual commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.   I have accepted the Invitation to a Holy Lent by leveraging a modest act of self-denial into a meaningful way of helping those less fortunate than me.  Instead of buying my lunch every day, I will bring a lunch from home at least once a week and the money I save will go to House of Ruth.  I encourage you to join me in this endeavor, but more importantly, I ask you to ponder what will be your response to this Invitation to a Holy Lent?