Lent Central

"I will not fail you or forsake you" Deuteronomy 31: 6; Joshua 1: 5

I was walking downtown the other day and saw a sign in front of the restaurant "The Flying Fish." The sign read, "Lent Central " indicating this is the place to keep a dietary Lent. I wondered how many people understood what that sign means? Then I thought why so many people would know what it means, smack dab on the busiest street in downtown Memphis. No matter how near or far any of us are from a faith community, it seems the message of our faith is all around us. I tend to do different things personally to observe a holy Lent, not worrying too much about eating meat this year. But I am intrigued that the old tradition of our faith appears on the front windows of a fish restaurant near bluesy Beale Street.

Over and over again I am reminded of God's pursuit of us. No matter where we are in life or whatever it is we are going through, God is faithful working in seen and unseen ways. The scripture quoted above comes from two sources spoken to Joshua. Moses was first giving counsel to Joshua who was taking the reigns of leadership for the people of God. The second time it seems to be flowing straight out of the mouth of God, certainly coming as a reminder to God's people and to Joshua. Another time it appears in the book of Hebrews (13:5) when the writer of the epistle is trying to reach third generation Jewish-Christians who were thinking of leaving the way of Christ.

I received an email from my good buddy Dean out in San Diego this week. I love hearing from Dean. He is sort of like an adopted son who is ten years younger, but seems like an old buddy too. We've been friends for a long time now. Seen each other through relocations, broken hearts and broken toys. He wrecked my aqua green Geo Storm back in 1993 while cruising some "hot man" walking down Peachtree Street. When he pulled up in the drive way and I saw the hood of the car bent in two, I knew that Dean had a great explanation for the new body job on my Geo. As years have flown by and our lives took us to different cities, we have shared broken dreams and spirits like we did those broken toys back in the day. Not that our lives have been all broken up into somber and trying pieces, quite the contrary. It is during those times that we seem to have the most to say to each other.

Nowadays Dean has taken a dive into Christian spirituality. Long way from the days of being angry about his abusive fundamentalist upbringing. It used to be that I could hardly get Dean to go to church, let alone admit anything wonderful about his Christian faith. California has brought Dean to claim a Christian faith unlike the faith of his rural South Carolina upbringing. At first appearance Dean is one of those guys that you think must have everything going for him. Like most of us, he is as genuine as they come and he has had some hard knocks in life. A couple of years ago he called me with emotional news that he "met Christ again for the very first time" while attending an inclusive and traditional Episcopal church. Today I got an email from Dean who said he was looking at the explorefaith.com web site. He wrote, "Memphis is the place to be for Lent. I am so envious that you have John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, Bishop Gene Robinson, etc. coming there. You have to write me what it was like for you to listen to and to meet them." I nearly fell off my chair to read such words coming from my old friend. I replied, yes, Memphis has some hidden gems that seem to shine brightest during Lent.

I hope all of you are remembering your journey, reconnecting and holding fast to the faith which has been proclaimed to you. If you have wandered off, now is the time to check back in and find the Christ who has been with you all along. Afterall, it appears that we live in Lent Central and the doors are open beckoning us to feed and nurture our faith.