As I conduct my unofficial `Pastor’s poll’ across various segments of our society, I do not observe many people clamoring for Lent. In fact, unless you’re one of those `good old church people,’ who remembers the days of Wednesday night Vespers and dietary restrictions, you might be wearing a befuddled look on your face when I mention, `Lent,’ as if to ask, `Lent – what’s that?’ And then, after hearing my explanation, that befuddled visage languishes, laced with a look of stoned silence. The truth is: there is a growing sentiment across various segments of society that regards Lent as obsolete. So, `Why Lent?’

Understandably, a historical review of the origins of the Lenten Season is beyond the scope of this message. Plus, the last approach a modern person is seeking these days is anything much to do with history. Similarly, while an appeal unto tradition as a reason to observe Lent may strike a welcomed chord among `church people,’ it will hardly spawn a receptive spirit among the rest of us who have necessarily learned caution and cynicism with regards to `tradition.’ No, there must be pertinent value to observing Lent within the observance itself; otherwise, Lent becomes a season in search of meaning. I contend that such pertinent value exists and, more than that, is urgently needed in these times, whether you are a `church person’ or not. Why Lent? Lent is the time for spiritual therapy.

Spiritual therapy is like other kinds of therapy, except its area of expertise has to do with God. Just like one individual, or married couple or family enters into a therapeutic process in order to correct and enhance inter-personal relationships and/or for self-improvement, so, as individuals or whole congregations, we enter into a deliberate process in order to correct and enhance our inter-personal relationship with God … and, as individuals, to grow into fulfilled human beings by becoming like Jesus. And just like other sorts of therapy, this doesn’t occur automatically. It requires effort and determination on our part … with the promise of a blessed outcome. Granted, we can’t be assured of a healthy relationship with God simply by working at it. But this much is true: without attending to our inter-personal relationships (the most basic of which is our relationship with God), we can be assured that our life with God will be diagnosed as unhealthy.

The `therapy’ of Lent directs us to activities exactly foreign to the way life is presently being lived – activities of self-reflection, slowing down life’s pace, listening and taking responsibility for ourselves. This may be difficult for us to accept, yet it stands the test of reason: If our present lifestyles were deemed so healthy, no therapy would be required. Further, there is no therapy known to humankind that is regarded as easy. Those entering into spiritual therapy then, do so out of their own desire to `get healthy with God.’ They should be prepared to work hard, set aside proper time for the effort … and prayerfully expect an outcome leading to a healthier, more mature `walk with the Lord.’ For starters:

a. Slow Down. The pace at which we live, our half-sentence conversations and the extreme value we place on multi-tasking must all come into question. By filling every minute of the day, we are losing our capacity to function at a human level.

b. Self-reflect. Having regular intervals to examine oneself from the vantage point of self-transcendence is the capacity that distinguishes the human creature from all others. Ask yourself questions about your motives, your behavior, your goals … in light of a higher, Biblical standard.

c. Listen. When we’re talking, we’re not listening. And sometimes when we’re not talking, we’re really just rehearsing what we’re going to say next. Listening means placing yourself in a position of `openness to receive another way.’ Listening, trust, risk and the possibility of personal change are inter-related.

d. Take responsibility for your own actions. Not everything in life is someone else’s fault. Living, as we often do, in the human `default mode,’ blaming others to prevent ourselves from getting into trouble, is to live like Adam and Eve. It is regression. Old habits die hard. But die they must.

Lent is critical for health and growth. As we measure the days and seasons of our living, somewhere in-between instant gratification and hoped-for `pie in the sky,’ comes this marvelous possibility the church calls `Lent.’ Lent is the honest, hard-working, even painful time for spiritual therapy. Why Lent? Lent is the space in your life where God can work His divine energy over you. Cast in the image of His Son, you begin to grow and truly live. That’s why.

Pastor Kopp

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Rev. Rodney S. Kopp, Pastor
Wayne Lutz, Church Administrator
Karl Schneider, Shut-InMinistry
Sheila D. Booker, Director of Music
Rebecca Ehrlich, Parish Associate

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