Ash Wednesday, March 5

Lent calls us to step forward, even when we’re not fully ready.

Are you ready to move toward transformation? Are you ready to listen for good news in seemingly impossible spaces, even as a divided people and planet? Ready to set Lenten intentions, even with this year’s challenges? Ready, even with some good reasons to wait a little longer to begin?

Getting ready shifts intended journeys to active practices of packing, strength-training, and starting farewells. The disciples had already asked about itineraries: Where will we sleep? What will we eat? Whom should we trust or fear along the way? They raise concerns about rejection and prepare to retaliate. Regarding readiness, the more I research listening, the more I rethink it. It’s tempting to consider listening a skill set: don’t cross your arms, make eye contact, be curious, avoid intercultural offenses. Learn the skills, then you’re ready to go.

If mastering skills precedes listening well, how long will that take? Is it possible to be completely ready? How are we supposed to listen for good news in the absolute worst, most inconvenient times?

But zoom out to communal readiness: activating intentions to change while the fresh death of old, harmful—yet beloved—ways of life hasn't even begun to be collectively buried and grieved. In this scripture, I don’t hear Luke denying the grief work that keeps getting bumped off our to-do lists that are utterly overwhelming. I hear: How long will this humanity ask for extensions? How long will we say, “Hold up, I’m almost ready.”

When important preparation remains undone and fresh deaths remain ungrieved, the time to move is today. What if listening is a practice on the move, a learning as we go, a birth crowning at the gravesides of yesterday? This is the day. Lent is here. Are you ready?

—Dr. Mindy McGarrah Sharp (@mindy.m.sharp) from her commentary on Luke 9:51-62 | @sanctifiedart

Reflect
As Lent begins, how will you align your intentions with your actions?