Wednesday's thoughts

"Who's Responsible for This?"
We will want to think carefully about responsibility this Lent. What will we take on and what will we let go of and have someone else accept as their responsibility?
What will we do about becoming over burdened? How will we decide?
If we believe Jesus took on the sins of the world what does that say about the responsibility we have for life and for the lives of the people around us?

One of the first things we will want to do when we are struggling with our responsibility is to take a step back. There is nothing wrong with taking a look at what is being asked of us and taking some time to determine what we will accept and what we will not.

Tuesday of this week we celebrated Shrove Tuesday at the church. We had games for children and pancakes and lots of fun. It was carrying out the event the tradition of celebrating just before Lent begins with a night of fun and games. Historically, pancakes used up the sugar and shortening that, historically, believers refrained from eating during the season of Lent. Tuesday was an opportunity to take a step back prior to the beginning of the heaviest season of the year; the season of Lent.

This Lent we will look at the imperatives of Lent and this coming Sunday I'm going to have us look at the Last Supper as a time when Jesus took a step back by calling his friends together for a meal before he was arrested, tried, sentenced, suffered, and died on the cross. The Last Supper was a time to step back before the difficult end.

Sometimes we all need to take a step back. In the sermon I am going to talk about how important it is to take a deep breath, to catch our breath, and to take a step back before we agree to take on responsibility for making the world a better place.

How have you learned to take a step back? What do you do to catch your breath when you are feeling confronted with obligations and responsibilities?

If you have suggestions write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster