Keeping a Holy Lent, Day 2: Walk, carpool, bike, or bus it

I am following the ideas listed here.

In preparing to walk to work this morning (I did say I was close enough to walk…in March…when it would be warmer?), I pondered all the things I thought I was supposed to ponder in this Lenten exercise.  I thought about how those who have to do such things because they don’t have reliable automobiles (or maybe even at all) get around; how hard it would be to get to the grocery store and back; how cold it was going to be (and would be for people who had to do this all the time); how much time it would take to get anywhere and that I couldn’t be in a hurry but would have to plan ahead.  I even thought about my appointment this afternoon that is 2.8 miles from the church.  Thank you, Google Maps!  Google Maps also told me it would take 56 minutes to get there – can’t be in a hurry!

That’s when it hit me! Here I thought I was supposed to be in solidarity with the poor, or maybe thinking about how much more environmentally friendly I was being – to the world and to my body.  But, really I need to think about something much deeper.

Here is what I mean: the office manager at the church leaves to go to lunch around 12:30, and I would rather walk the almost 3 miles than ask her for a ride.  Think about that.  I have no doubt that if I asked, she would gladly drive me.  It may not even be out of her way.  However, I almost get hives at the thought of asking for help!

I have bought in, hook, line, and sinker, to the notion almost unique to our culture that we have to be self-sufficient: that we really, if we work hard enough, can do this life thing all by ourselves.  To need anyone else (or worse yet: everyone else) is the greatest sin.  It might not be too bad if I can return the favor, but to need without being able to repay or contribute…

The first time the Bible has God say something is not good in scripture – after the sevenfold “It is good” in chapter 1, is in Genesis 2:18, “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the human being should be alone…” (‘adam’ in Hebrew is the generic term for ‘human being’, vs. ‘ish’ for ‘man’ and ‘ishah’ for ‘woman’). 

We are not meant to do this life thing by ourselves, and I don’t think we ever were.

God of life and breath, thank you for companions on life’s journey.  Teach us to rely on one another.  Amen.

Shalom Y'all,

Owen