Lent 2020: Week 5 – Release

Friday, March 27th, 2020

In the devotional reading for today, Rev. Sam explains that the 12 steps of AA were made for Lent. I have never given any thought to such a comparison. She points out rather appropriately in my opinion, we are all addicts in a sense. If we take the time to inventory our lives, I’m sure there would be things that we are addicted to, loosely saying. I know individuals who will only drink certain brands of coffee, now that’s not terrible but they are not happy if it’s not available. I am in no way trying to compare addiction of coffee to someone addicted to more harmful things such as drugs or alcohol. Addiction, is a serious epidemic in several parts of the world. But I do think Rev. Sam, rather Fr. Richard Rohr makes some good points in his book, “Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps.” The Twelve Steps closely parallel what Christians should be doing. Individuals who participate in and successfully complete the twelve steps know how to be honest about themselves, willing to confess, and seek to make amends. I don’t know what your thoughts are but mine, this sounds very Christian-like behavior. The season of Lent reminds us that we need to take inventory of ourselves and our relationships. Similar in the Seven R’s we have been discussing so far in this season of Lent: REPENT, RECOVER, REMEMBER, REST, RELEASE… We have two more weeks of Lent as we rediscover RISE & RELIVE!

Practice:

Recite the first lines of the Serenity Prayer:

• “God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

• the courage to change the things I can,

• and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Consider working these steps over the next few weeks. 🙏🏻

Friends, I leave you with a prayer from James 5:13-18, A Prayer of Faith. Much love to all of you. Be safe, Be Healthy, Be Smart, Be Kind! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🤎

ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed below.

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻🙏🏻❣️

References:

https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.abingdonpress.com/

Richard Rohr, OFM, (born 1943) is an American author, spiritual writer, and Franciscan friar based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church in 1970. He has been called “one of the most popular spirituality authors and speakers in the world.”