A thought for Lent... from Margie

Last week Margie sent me a prayer that has resonated with me all week.  I want to share it with you.   After my experiences with amazing, very poor, loving and gracious people in Sierra Leone who have access to so little, returning to our never ending stores with never ending choices in merchandise, this prayer really spoke to to me.  During Lent we often spend time thinking about what it is we can give up to help prepare us for celebrating the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.   Out of our life of plenty, to give up something is really only an inconvenience.  So read the words of Richard Rohr.  I hope you too will find a new way to greet the morning.   We are blessed beyond words.  

   

A Prayer to Avoid Entitlement

by Richard Rohr

The Jewish people have a beautiful prayer form, a kind of litany to which the response is always "Dayenu!" (It would have been enough!).

They list, one by one, the mirabilia Dei, the wonderful works of God for their people and themselves, and after each one, shout out DAYENU! As if to say, "How much is it going to take for us to know that God is with us?!" It builds satisfaction instead of feeding dissatisfaction.

If we begin our day with any notion of scarcity, not-enoughness, victimhood, or "I deserve," I promise you the day will not be good--for you or for those around you. Nor will God be glorified.

Maybe we all should begin our days with a litany of satisfaction, abundance, and enoughness. God, you have given me another day of totally gratuitous life: my health, my eyes, my ears, my mind, my taste, my family, my freedom, my education, clean water, more than enough food, a roof over my head, a warm bed and blanket, friends, sunshine, a beating heart, and your eternal love and guidance.

 

Thanks Margie for sharing one of your readings.