Lent 2005 Letter
Saint John's Church

Lent 2005

Dear Members and Friends,

It's the little things in life... like kidney stones. They can become huge disrupters. This letter and schedule are late because your truly was shut down for more than a few days while dealing with just such a reality.

I used the same analogy about the small things in our lives becoming big problems in my Ash Wednesday homily, not only because it was so fresh in my mind, but because it is so true in our spiritual lives as well. A small lie can become a huge embarrassment; a small slight can be a huge problem when that person slighted becomes your boss; a small indulgence can become a major blind spot when oft repeated.

Spiritual blindness is a leading cause of the ills in our lives as individuals and as a society. The self-centeredness which caused a particular ill probably started on a small scale, but now we see both citizens and nations grasping and hoarding, declaring conveniences to be necessities, and, like small children, seemingly unable to recognise that cooperation leads to lasting and greater success and fulfilment, instead of taking all the 'toys' for oneself.

How do we overcome this spiritual blindness once it has its hold, as it does in some degree or other for virtually everyone and every society? The classic Christian answer for individuals, and especially in our Anglican tradition, is by spiritual direction- having an 'outsider' take a look with us at our life in Christ's world. We learn in the Book of Proverbs that the man who takes himself for his only counsel is a fool. There are some who shun spiritual direction because they "don't need somebody who doesn't know me and my life telling me how to live it". What they show by such an attitude is their complete ignorance of what spiritual direction is, not to mention the strong odour of spiritual pride and arrogance swirling about them. Everyone can use spiritual direction, some more than others, but everyone can benefit enormously from a friendly guide along the way.

The traditional response to societal 'direction' has been the so-called state Church. We have seen that, in most cases, love of power has corrupted this noble ideal and that the Church makes a better guide when it speaks to Society from a position outside of government, with a unified voice as 'one who speaks with authority'. Jesus did not make piddling directives, nor did he pussy-foot around. He called a nation and a religion to repentance, conversion, and actions befitting the reign of God. He contrasted the behaviour of the nation and the religious elite with what the holy Covenant with God and each other required. He did so courageously, too. The Church can do no differently if it wants to be authentic and faithful to the mind of Christ. Every nation is sinful and needs to be called to repentance. Who is there to speak the unified mind of The Holy Trinity to our nation today?

This season of Lent is a time to go to a spiritual ophthalmologist. It is a time to deal with our own blindness before trying to deal with our national sins, while keeping the spiritual needs of our country and world in mind. There are people to help. Recommendations can come from the Bishop's office, from the rector, from local religious houses, and from friends. There is no shortage of people to ask about spiritual guidance or even people to guide. And let's not hear anyone say, "I just don't have the time." That exposes a spiritual blind spot as big as Texas!

Use this season to your profit. Seek out a spiritual friend with whom to enjoy the work of conversion to holiness of life. You will never regret it.

Yours faithfully in Christ Jesus,

(The Rev'd) Jesse L. A. Parker
Rector of Saint John's Church