Here it is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the time when I am called to focus on Christ’s suffering for me.
Growing up, I knew very little about Ash Wednesday and what I knew was from my Catholic mom. But we primarily attended a non-denominational Bible chapel that mostly shunned “church” order and aerobics.
As a teen living away from home, a college student, and an adult I have attended and visited churches of many Christian denominations and faiths, not just Christian. Some churches I attended only once, some several times, a couple too many years. All of those different experiences have only concreted my belief that religion is indeed a man made activity.
And that’s OK.
It’s OK because I am confident that I am only responsible for myself. I am only responsible for my own faith and the expression of that faith. I am not responsible for my Husband’s salvation. I am not responsible for any of the children’s salvation. I am not responsible for the salvation of family, friends, or strangers. Only my own.
I want to raise up our children in the way I believe right. One way is through awareness of and activities within the Lenten period. Not meaningless “giving up” choices. But in meaningful action of truthfulness. And that means building with them a greater awareness that their actions to choose are their own.
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Now some housekeeping…
Last week’s posts regarding food benefits are still floating around pretty strongly. And that’s a really good thing to help keep the conversation going.
Thank you to my local folk for promoting and leading to more elderberry requests. I am grateful!
And the snow… It came. We played. And just a bit after lunch it was gone and we were outside playing and relaxing in the snow-less sunshine. The perfect snow.
I agree with you that religion is man-made; it has ancient precedent and I wonder if the expression of religion was imply that of humans trying to make sense of the presence of “other.”
I used to agree wholeheartedly that ‘“giving up” choices’ were “meaningless.” I see something different in them today. If you are interested you can check out my “surrender” post (linked below).
I think inculcating that culture of “meaningful action of truthfulness.” That is a really good idea. I think I will raise that idea with my family tonight. I am wondering if a lenten sacrifice for the family might be giving up criticism, and each of us working toward honest feedback instead. With some “respecting choice” guidelines of course! Thank you for this inspiration.
Lately I found myself quoting Thumper’s mother, “If you can’t say something nice . . .” but it hasn’t sat well with me. What I am really after is each of modeling self-discipline in our “feedback” to others and learning to discern when I am being judgmental and also whether the other person is in a state to receive the feedback. In other words, I guess, empathetic feedback.
Sorry to ramble on so long. Thank you so much for inspiring me.
What a beautiful post in your comment, Dreena. I will read your surrender post today. I am sorry this went to the spam file for some reason. I am glad I found it!
So pretty. I grew up in a Baptist church, attended Catholic church with my grandparents (enough to know what to say, when to stand, kneel, ect.) I had a focus on religion in college and have been to many churches of different religions along with studying them. I allowed me to come to the same conclusion you have, that the act of church is very man driven. When I got to be 18 my parents stopped going to church and did their daily devotions and we all speak to one another about what we are learning or having difficulties with.
I think maybe Trent and I will try to reflect on what this all means. He is a new Christian and I am an old Christian with a baby mentality. SO we are on the same page and growing together.
Thanks for your post. You always give me such great ideas for my own little family.