“Looking Back to Move Forward”
“…life-shaping belief in God requires things like conviction, formative discipleship, and habits and practices that don’t make sense apart from that belief. It also requires, as we’d like to
contend here, ongoing immersion in traditions—of inquiry, of practice, indeed of living and being—that can illumine our present circumstances and draw us toward hope-filled futures.”
Andrew Hogue and Gregory Jones
As we start this Lenten season 2023, we are still at the “intersection” of deep suffering in the world. The war in Ukraine is taking on a new dimension, the Covid 19 pandemic continues to challenge health care responses, global economies try to respond and deep political divisions show no sign of resolution. What and where are the Lenten responses?
For me, it is a time of reflection, looking back to see the way forward. There is a wonderful icon for this response - “The Sankofa Bird”. This story is what we practice in Lent as we look back to see what we have forgotten. It is not nostalgia. It is not “living in the past”! It is a catalyst to our living into our Christian calling that we so easily forget.
I have felt the reality in the Lenten stories that are shared in the communities of faith that continue to sing and listen. These celebrations events are the “good news” that shines in the darkness.
Thanks be to God,
Marvin
References
Hogue, Andrew P.; Jones, L. Gregory. Navigating the Future (p. 15). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
Sankofa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankofa
Previous Lenten Posts:
Hage, M. L. (2021). Promised Healing.
http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2021/03/promised-healing.html
Hage, M. L. (2021). Healing Memorials.
http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2021/08/healing-memorials.html
Hage, M. L. (2022). Lenten Peace.
http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2022/03/lenten-peace.html
Hage, M. L. (2022). “Holy Covid”.
http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2022/04/holy-covid.html
