Lenten Metanoia: a Change of Heart

It's about time I got back to my blog. It's been too long.
Maybe I will start back in slowly, like dipping one's toe in the water before diving in. Lent is a time that is ripe for new beginnings, so I will start at the beginning with my favorite mentor Henri Nouwen:

"Jesus does not respond to our worry-filled way of living by saying that we should not be busy with worldly affairs. He does not try to pull us away from the many events, activities, and people that make up our lives. He does not tell us that what we do is unimportant, valueless, or useless. Nor does he suggest that we should withdraw from our involvements and live quiet, restful lives removed from the struggles of the world.

Jesus’ response to our worry-filled lives is quite different. He asks us to shift the point of gravity, to relocate the center of our attention, to change our priorities. Jesus wants us to move from the ’‘many things” to the ”one necessary thing.” It is important for us to realize that Jesus in no way wants us to leave our many-faceted world. Rather, he wants us to live in it, but firmly rooted in the center of all things. Jesus does not speak about a change of activities, a change in contacts, or even a change of pace. He speaks about a change of heart. This change of heart makes everything different, even while everything appears to remain the same. This is the meaning of “Set your hearts on his kingdom first…and all these other things will be given you as well.” What counts is where our hearts are. When we worry, we have our hearts in the wrong place. Jesus asks us to move our hearts to the center, where all other things fall into place." ---Henri J.M. Nouwen, Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life

I've been working on a Benedictine retreat for this fall based on The Sacred Way by Tony Jones. Will post progress reports I promise.
In the meantime have a most blessed Lent.
Yours in Christ,
Rev