Lent, Week 5, From The Upper Room Center
This newsletter comes to you from The Upper Room Center for Christian Spiritual Formation, an evolving offering of Upper Room resources, past and present.
The One Thing Necessary by Judith E. Smith
As we give up control to God, we actually live in a deeper freedom
One of the myths of our culture is that control of ourselves and others is what gives us freedom. If we are in control, then obviously we can make decisions, and that leaves us free. But that is a myth. The paradox is that as we give up control to God, we actually live in a deeper freedom.The freedom of God may call us to turn all of our most precious definitions of faithfulness on their heads. It may be that the most difficult call for us to respond to is not a call that demands of us great sacrifices but a call that offers to us great gifts. (From "The One Thing Necessary" by Judith E. Smith inWeavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life, September/October 1986. Copyright © 1986 by The Upper Room. Used by permission.)
Practice: Becoming a Compassionate Neighbor to Myself by Trevor Hudson
Christ-followers who take seriously the gospel’s challenge to compassion often neglect to care for themselves. Whatever the reasons for this neglect (ranging from fear of doing anything that looks selfish, always wanting to please others, and needing to be needed to a sincere desire to put others first) inadequately caring for ourselves sets us up as prime candidates for compassion fatigue. We can care overmuch. Accepting the fact that we can care for others only when we care for ourselves guards us against the dangers of overcaring. ...
When we do not show compassion toward ourselves, our compassion for others becomes poisoned with harmful toxins. However, once we learn to love ourselves as God does, we become freer to pour out our lives in sacrificial self-giving and to do so without resentment and heaviness of spirit. Having a proper love for ourselves, we can then forget ourselves, reach out to others, and respond to their needs. Self-love and other-love are bound together. Perhaps for this reason Jesus reaffirmed the centuries-old levitical command given to the Hebrew people as binding upon his followers: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). How do we become compassionate neighbors to ourselves? Here is a menu of possibilities worth exploring. (From A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2005 by Trevor Hudson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books.)
Video: God Transforms Our Brokenness by Beth A. Richardson
Real freedom to live in this world comes from hearing clearly the truth about who we are, which is that we are the beloved. That's what prayer is about. (From A Spirituality of Living by Henri J. M. Nouwen with John S. Mogabgab, Series Editor. Copyright 2011 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
Audio Lectio
Pray with us the gospel lessons for each Sunday of Lent. Audio Lectio is a guided meditation using each week's gospel reading from the lectionary.
Two-Year Academy
Join us on the journey -- upcoming Two-Year Academies for Spiritual Formation. California - beginning in July. Alabama - beginning in August. Learn more.Two-Year Academy
This occasional newsletter brings resources for your spiritual journey and updates from The Upper Room.
Blessings to you during this Lenten season.
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