My father tells me that his earliest days of preaching were spent out in a cow pasture, admonishing the uncooperative beasts to produce more milk or else face the threat of eternal punishment. His technique was a bit rough around the edges, his message all the more, but it was his beginning. A cow pasture is a good place to start with Jesus and the Word—the preaching of it, even more so the understanding of it. Sometimes faith is best worked out in the pasture—those wide-open spaces in our lives that allow for roaming, grazing, and thinking. Sometimes, we need that space in our lives to work it out. To walk and eat and ponder with God.
My father has taken that time with God, seven decades’ worth of heart investments. The pulpit in the cow pasture moved forward to include numerous pulpits over the years. Some conventional; some off the beaten path. Regardless of the venue, my daddy has always been a preacher, always been willing to tell the Story, to live the grace, and to serve as an extension of God’s love in this world.
I’d listen to him anywhere—a church, a classroom, in the car, at the dinner table, or even in a cow pasture. He’s just that authentic and wonderful and “holy” connected to the deep things of God. Graciously, he’s agreed to share some of his Lenten ponderings with us. He’ll be here each Wednesday, perhaps even more. He can be trusted with the truth. Children who work out God’s message in the cow pasture are those who have something to say. I trust my daddy’s heart, because my daddy has never backed away from doing the hard work of faith. So, let’s go with God as we travel with Chuck to the Easter cross over these next six weeks.
The pivotal story for Lent is the one at the beginning: the story of Jesus’ forty day loneliness. It is the season of vacancy and vacuum, privacy and pause; of solitude and great subtraction. The Tempter tried to fill the loneliness with bread, with power, and with glory—all good things. The temptation is always to fill, to furnish, to fertilize the emptiness of the forty days.
We, all of us, are drawn to six weeks where we try to be profoundly religious. We will attend worship, participate in adult education, consider mission activities and mission giving, engage in renewed spiritual disciplines that range from some sort of fasting practice, to prayer, to meditation, journaling. We are hungry, longing, and hopeful.
We preachers come along and are tempted to fill that hunger, that longing, that hope. In one community Lent means a revival…another, a labyrinth workshop. One preaches repentance and another goes to a retreat; still others work in a shelter for the homeless or in a letter-writing campaign for social justice. All are good; all are valuable; but when we are waiting to discover the gift in the loneliness, all are distracting.
How about this bizarre thought: a four-letter word, Lent, is a time for preachers to let people alone. If we all make our way to the desert, the place of our loneliness, we will discover in the uncharted part of Lent, the best part of all is receiving gifts—knowing who we are and that we are not alone. Blessed be God who every year gives us forty days to rediscover these healing and transforming gifts for ourselves and one another!
I guess you could say this is my introduction to the desert journey I’m taking as Lent begins: to be more open to silence and listening; to be more intentional in taking better care of my soul and my body; to envision more fully who God wants me to be; and to discern with clarity the difference between what is ‘central’ and what is peripheral.
Lent is a trip I must take for myself. It is a journey into the parched desert of my soul, languishing for water. No one can do that for me. It will be lonely. Yes, loneliness is a four-letter word—LENT! It should never fit too easily into the natural rhythms of our lives.
Amen. Thank you both so much. I have been looking for devotions on Lent. This was beautifully full of Truth.
So glad you'll be with us as you can, Jennifer. I tried to find your blog but was unable to access it. Blessings and peace to you today.
Chucks's words touch my heart where I need a fresh touch from God.
So simple, yet so profound.
Yes, the loneliness of Lent is something I need to embrace.
Out of this time of renewal is a sure refreshing… badly needed by my battered soul.
Thank you for sharing.
Much love
Lidia
You gave me much to think on. I had never thought of Lent in that way before. Thanks for making me want to search more today for what the Lord wants for me.
oh this is going to be so good. I am excited for you to share your father with us Elaine. As you know, I feel the heartfelt words you used for your dad, as they so resemble my own.
Thank you Pastor Chuck, for sharing your heart, and for gifting us with your beautiful Elaine. She has blessed me and challenged me a hundred times over, and I know you are a big reason.
Looking so forward to these sharings.
Elaine, I love your Daddy's words….being intential and listening to His voice is where I am trying to be more obedient. Looking forward to Mr. Chuck's lessons.
Hugs!
Susan
Just beautiful and poignant (and i have to tell you I laughed out loud at the first sentence of your introduction). Thank you, Pastor Church.
What an embracable writing! I see a father-daughter likeness in the writing of these words. I agree with your fathers approach this year. I choose not to follow the traiditional and give up something but to instead give out as Christ did for us.
On a lighter note…When I was a child on my gradfathers farm I would have church for the cows…sometimes they sang the hymns with me…seriously!!!
Love you friend. Be blessed in this season.
Living Out Loud~Pamela
The words here are so beautifully crafted that they hurt! Penetrating and welcoming at the same time, they create in me a longing for the desert where I can "be more open to silence and listening; be more intentional in taking better care of my soul and my body; envision more fully who God wants me to be; and discern with clarity the difference between what is ‘central’ and what is peripheral."
Thank you both. Thank You, Heavenly Father!
Looking forward to walking this desert journey with you and your dad, Elaine. This part of Chuck's post spoke to me, too, just as it did to Rebecca:
"…to be more open to silence and listening; to be more intentional in taking better care of my soul and my body; to envision more fully who God wants me to be; and to discern with clarity the difference between what is ‘central’ and what is peripheral."
Love you
Elaine and Chuck, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and hearts with us. Our church denomination doesn't emphasize Lent, but this approach sounds like a time of getting really honest before the Lord and drawing closer to Him. What wonderful food for thought.
I see where your writing talent comes from. Can't wait to hear more from your Daddy. Blessings to you, my friend.
You know, I've never observed Lent although I've heard a lot about it from friends. Not sure how to even approach it at this point…what the "rules" are, etc., but I do like the concept of taking a season of spiritual focus like this.
For me, I don't follow a prescribed set of standards for Lent. I do, however, like the aspect of a time "set apart" to mark this important season of the year. I love prescribed remembrance. It helps me to focus my heart. Our Ash Wednesday service last night was beautiful.
Pastor Chuck, thanks for blessing us with these beautiful, truthful words. I really look forward to reading more of your words. You are blessed with such a precious daughter in Elaine.
wifeforthejourney:
How good it is to keep company with you and your dad during this Lenten season! Among the married men of the world I am perhaps one of the few that has no bad "in-law" stories to tell. Both your mom and dad are godly and awesome Christian people; both worth listening to when they have something to say.
Being alone is (so often) strange territory for me. Partly because of our home life, partly because of my life-as-pastor, and in part because I'm such an extrovert I just enjoy the company of others. Consequently, I have to often allowed my service to others to take the place of authentic "heart work" of just me and Jesus. But here, now, is Lent – a time for being alone. As you say, "Lent is a trip I must take for myself."
Ash Wednesday was a good start for me, I hope to make the most of these next 39 days to earnestly seek the Lord.
Love to all,
Billy
This is a good word from your dad. Thanks for sharing it. So glad he is still here with you. My precious dad now lives with Jesus. We are both blessed beyond measure~
Jennifer
Oh Elaine, what wisdom from your wonderful Dad. How blessed you are to have him…He had me with the first three sentences! Lori
You have one wise daddy Elaine! I am so glad you asked him to share with us today. He blessed me and reminded me of an important time and how to spend it. Mercy is better than sacrifice.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Yes, loneliness is a four-letter word, and so is the antidote – love. Blessings to you.