L E N T 2020
In the middle of 2019, I (Charlie) decided to commit to running two miles every day. Now I don’t love running and I am not in the greatest shape. In fact, two weeks into my new regimen, my teeth felt like they were about to fall out because of the increased circulation in my gums. For the first three months, I had to force myself each morning to put on my shoes, do old man stretches, and begin my fumbling run through the neighborhood.
But then something started to happen. I actually began to enjoy running. A year later, I actually look forward to and anticipate this morning run each day. When for whatever reason I can’t run in the morning, it will gnaw at me all day like a hard to break craving.
In his book, You Are What You Love James K.A. Smith argues that religion is primarily not a set of beliefs but a set of practices. Sit with that statement for a moment. And over time, practices deeply form the things we love and the way we worship. A scary question I have had this past year is: Could this two mile jog be the most formative practice in my entire life? If so, what other practices are forming my loves and orienting my worship?
For Lent 2020, we as a church family want to journey together through reflecting on how our current, everyday practices are shaping our loves and then imagine how ancient, yet incredibly relevant spiritual disciplines might shape us as a people today. My hope is that we would enter Eastertide a more faithful, counter-cultural, missionally engaged, and joyful people.
Following Jesus with you,
Sarah Hamilton, Chris Gonzalez, and Charlie Meo