Lent: Acknowledge, Apologize, Act

Below is the weekly chaplain's newsletter called 'Table Talk' that I write for the Holy Innocents' Lower School.

Dear Golden Bears, Parents, and Friends,

“To err is human; to forgive, divine.”

 — Alexander Pope

This past Wednesday hundreds of us at Holy Innocents’ joined the millions of others around the world that had their foreheads marked with ash. Placing ashes on your forehead is a sign carried over from ancient times that indicates you are sorry for something. As the ashes were imposed, we recalled the famous Ash Wednesday words: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” which is really just a poetic way of saying ‘remember that you’re human.’ (The English word ‘human’ comes from the Latin word humanus, which is derived from humus meaning ‘earth’ or ‘soil’.)

It is human to make mistakes. Unlike God, all humans fall short of perfection. Each of us occasionally does things we know we shouldn’t, just as we sometimes don’t do things we know we should. Lent is the season in the Church calendar when we pause to 1) acknowledge our faults and sins, 2) apologize to God and to our neighbors, and 3) try to renew our lives and act in ways that mirror God’s love and forgiveness.

Acknowledgment is a practice in honesty. Apologizing is a practice in forgiveness. Acting is practice in agape or Godly love.

Over the weeks leading up to Easter, I encourage you to join me in practicing what I call The Three As of Lent. I’ll get us started by sharing one of the faults I acknowledge that I am often guilty of. Like many people, it’s easy for me to find myself spending too much time on my computer or my smart phone. When I give too much of my attention over to technology I find I don’t dedicate enough attention to the presence of the Spirit of God, I don’t pause long enough to listen to the quiet voice of my own soul, and I don’t devote enough attention to the lives and needs of the living, breathing people and world surrounding me. I am sorry and I apologize to God and to all who have been negatively affected by my lack of attentiveness, and, to show that I’m willing to act differently, I’m giving up the personal time I spend on social media for Lent and spending ten prayerful, tech-free minutes a day silently listening with my heart. 

I hope you join me on this Lenten journey. If you feel inclined, I also hope you’ll share with me how you’re renewing your relationship with God.

With Love and Prayers,

Chaplain Timothy