Orbiting in Solitude, Solidarity and Solace

Have you thought lately about what in your life you'd like to be different? Now before you say, "No," think about some conversations you've had recently. Have you told someone you're thinking about buying a new car? Did you hear yourself say you wish you had a new job; a new Easter outfit; better health insurance; a cleaner house; a smaller tax bill? Then we're not disagreeing about the idea, only the details.

The devil's in the details, or so goes an old saying. But what if that's all wrong? What if the details aren't the devil at all? What if the details are the whisperings of God calling you into new places; into new beginnings; new adventures? Could the details be God's beckoning you into a new future?

Uh, Uhh, too soon to argue the point. Tomorrow's a new future. Anyone reading this who doesn't want to see tomorrow? I didn't think so. What if the details are the Spirit of God – the energy of God leading you away from the sources of energy and power your personal planet orbits today, and into a new orbit of energy - the energy of the Risen Christ. Not the Christ who conquered death over 2000 years ago, but the energy of Christ alive and present in our midst.

The theological word for what I'm talking about is transformation. While you may not use that word to describe the experience, you know the experience. And though it can sometimes feel invasive, unwanted and unpredictable, you even relish it! Or at least you once did.

Remember how you relished: growing into teenage or adult years; welcoming someone back from war; giving birth; surviving an illness or serious accident; realizing you'd fallen in love; or felt mysteriously, again, the touch of a loved one you'd buried long ago? That was transformation. And, no doubt, God was involved in those details.

That's why the disciplines of Lent are so important. While we often talk about prayer, fasting and almsgiving - the details – we sometimes under emphasize the purposes behind these activities. Lenten disciplines afford us is solitude, solace, and solidarity. A space without distractions. An encounter with the God who loves and cares especially for us as individual persons. A sense of kinship and belonging with all those who live by God's grace.

We can't make that happen on our own. Maybe that's why we resist it so. This kind of different, this kind of change, this kind of transformation is beyond our control. Unlike deciding about buying a new car; joining a new church; or, taking a different kind of action to promote justice; we simply can't choose, or get to, this kind of meeting with God on our own terms. We can't get to God. Only God can get to us.

That's why God works so hard to make it so! It's not only that we often work so hard to keep this God at arms length. We also persist in defining this God in the same way we describe all those other energy fields we orbit. Oh, sure, we'd like to believe that we've long ago given up the notion that ours is a Scoutmaster God who hands out merit badges. We're sure we no longer understand God as the Santa who knows when we've been bad or good. Details, details.

Not claiming and celebrating the transformations God still gives to us keeps us from being a transforming people. We have three weeks left for a precious period of solitude, solace and solidarity. Can you hear Risen Jesus calling? The one who broke open and poured out in solitude and solidarity on the cross for you? Take solace. That detail's gonna change you!