Weekly Reflection - 3/19/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: Linda Woodworth, Junior Warden
During Lent, we are called to make room for and share God's presence with others. Some practice fasting or taking on a new habit. Others follow a spiritual guide or series of conversations with others. These practices are intended to turn us away from an inward focus on ourselves and create space to serve others. By turning us ‘outward’ we are able to be more present with God and our community.
This year, I also feel called to work on finding ‘balance’ - with all the distractions and noise of our lives, I feel an ongoing struggle in finding how and where I am being called to be ‘present’. The recent homily by Shawn Small struck home and gave me pause to consider the form of serving God and others.
Shawn invited us to be a 'participant' not just an 'observer'. This made me think more about the act of being present - am I actively or passively present in my community, with my friends and with my family? When I am 'present' - what form does that take? Am I observing merely? Am I offering silent support? Am I engaged in a more active manner - providing words or actions to support my community?
Our lives have a natural ebb and flow. This includes the ways that God is calling us to serve our community. In some situations and with some parts of our life, we can be (and should be) a 'present observer'. Observing gives us space to see and hear. With that space, hopefully the call for participation and the ways we can participate will become clearer.
This doesn’t imply that we can sit back as an observer only. God calls us to ‘take up our cross’ and follow him. That call is for action and intentional steps - participating in the causes and needs of our community sharing our time and talents.
My hope for Lent is to make room to hear the call, be present in my community and joyfully step forward to action.
Linda Woodworth,
Junior Warden
