I came across an interesting story.  There was a man who planned to rob a convenience store.  His plan was to give the clerk a ten dollar bill.  When the clerk opened the cash drawer to make change, the would-be thief would grab all the money.  The man’s plan worked perfectly.  The clerk set the $10 bill on the top of the cash register and opened the drawer.  The thief pushed the clerk back and grabbed all the money in the cash drawer – a grand total of $4.34.  Since he had left his $10, he lost $5.66 on the transaction. 

            Now we can laugh at this thief, but how often do we give up our most precious assets for diminishing returns? 

            Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of the Lenten season.  Lent is a season in our spiritual lives when we should ask ourselves tough questions about what we are exchanging our lives for and whether or not the transaction provides real value.  Many have discovered during this current economic turndown that their stock portfolio isn’t as strong as it was a year ago.  Hopefully, in time, there will be recovery.  I believe there is also time for spiritual recovery.  That it is possible to move away from attitudes and actions that diminish life and instead embrace attitudes and actions that enhance life, not only your own, but the lives of others. 

            One of the traditions associated with Lent is self denial.  People will give up dessert or meat.  One Lent I gave up caffeine.  Giving up something so that in its place we can focus more on God’s grace and presence makes sense, but only, in my judgment if the growth experience continues well past Lent.  I mean, that’s the whole purpose.  Not to be changed for 40 days, but to be changed. 

            Of course you don’t have to give something up.  You can add something to your life.  Maybe commit to waking up a few minutes earlier each morning and spend that time in prayer.  Maybe volunteer at a food pantry.  The options are numerous.  And of course, at the end of Lent it’s not that you go back to life as it was before, but that you are changed in a significant way by the experience, so that getting up every day to spend time with God or volunteering to assist others becomes part of your lifestyle.

            As Jesus, in Mark 8 begins to move toward the cross, he asks his disciples, “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?”  (Mark 8: 36)  A good question to ask any time, but it’s especially appropriate right now as we enter Lent.

            Your pastor,

            David Jones