What are you doing for Lent? For the next 40 days, I'm going to be doing some exercises. Not the physical kind -- but spiritual exercises. And not the typical spiritual exercises like fasting and giving up things. A different kind of "stretch." Here's my exercise for the first week of Lent.
Exercise #1: Crossing to the Other Side of the Boat
Do you remember this story from the gospel of John? It was after Jesus' resurrection. Peter decided to go fishing; it was, after all, his profession. Some of the disciples went with him. But they didn't catch anything -- all night long.
About daybreak, they saw Jesus on the shore. He asked them if they had caught anything and they replied "no." Then he told them to cast their net down on the other side of the boat. They did, and caught so many fish they could barely get them all to shore.
Jesus was a carpenter trying to tell experienced fishermen how to fish. He invited them to do something differently than what their experience taught them to do. And because of that, they caught more fish than they knew what to do with.
What This Means for Us
During this Lenten season, I invite you to join me in trying out this spiritual exercise. We think we know the right way. Our experience gives us confidence to act in ways that have worked in the past. But sometimes we need to listen to the voice of inexperience. To let someone who can see things we cannot see give us instruction. We need to let go of "our way," crossing over to the other side of the boat to look at life through "resurrection eyes."
Reflection Questions
Think of something you are really good at. At what point does our expertise and experience get in our way? Are you still learning things or have you gotten comfortable with the way you have always done it?
What is something that is not working very well for you right now? How can you open up your mind and heart for someone else to show you the way?
Where is your comfort zone? What side of the boat is your favorite? How can you move across to the other side and gain new insights from a different perspective?
Exercise #1: Crossing to the Other Side of the Boat
Do you remember this story from the gospel of John? It was after Jesus' resurrection. Peter decided to go fishing; it was, after all, his profession. Some of the disciples went with him. But they didn't catch anything -- all night long.
About daybreak, they saw Jesus on the shore. He asked them if they had caught anything and they replied "no." Then he told them to cast their net down on the other side of the boat. They did, and caught so many fish they could barely get them all to shore.
Jesus was a carpenter trying to tell experienced fishermen how to fish. He invited them to do something differently than what their experience taught them to do. And because of that, they caught more fish than they knew what to do with.
What This Means for Us
During this Lenten season, I invite you to join me in trying out this spiritual exercise. We think we know the right way. Our experience gives us confidence to act in ways that have worked in the past. But sometimes we need to listen to the voice of inexperience. To let someone who can see things we cannot see give us instruction. We need to let go of "our way," crossing over to the other side of the boat to look at life through "resurrection eyes."
Reflection Questions
Think of something you are really good at. At what point does our expertise and experience get in our way? Are you still learning things or have you gotten comfortable with the way you have always done it?
What is something that is not working very well for you right now? How can you open up your mind and heart for someone else to show you the way?
Where is your comfort zone? What side of the boat is your favorite? How can you move across to the other side and gain new insights from a different perspective?
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