3 posts tagged “lent”

In the 1980’s and 1990’s I used to do a lot of rock climbing both in Southern California’s Joshua Tree Park and in Chatsworth, CA.  I’ll never forget the first time I was instructed in repelling. A group of us were in Chatsworth where the 100 foot cliff face towers over the 118 Freeway.  Incidentally, not more than two hours before we were to repel, a young man had also tried to repel the cliffs, but alas because his rope was not properly secure, he fell and was taken away by helicopter to the nearest emergency room.  Needless to say my anxiety level increased dramatically!

As we prepared for the decent, our instructors checked, double checked and checked again how well our ropes were tied to the rocks.  To prove that they had done a good job our instructors went first down the rope and both arrived just fine.

“Now it’s your turn, Ron” they shouted up to me.  And placing my faith in their instruction and skill I walked down the face of the cliff to the bottom and landed unscathed. It was frightening and thrilling both at the same time.

You know it’s funny, but both Lent and our current American crisis are gut checks about where we place our faith. Do we trust ourselves like the young climber who placed his hope in his poor little knot, or do we place our faith in God who knows just what we need to get to where we need to be?  God is our hope for now and eternity. For those who have a hard time trusting God, I pray you join us (here at St. Clare's) in the richness of our common life in Lent through Easter.  Together we’ll find our way not only to common ground, but stand together, firm footed on the rock of Christ.

Yours for the reign of God,

Fr. Ron