By Ainslee Zou, a senior music and microbiology/biochemistry major from Bristol, Indiana
This week’s theme: From Exceptionalism to Inclusion
This week’s Scriptures: Joshua 5:9-12 | Psalm 32 | Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 | 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
During Lent, how much time do we spend thinking about ourselves? What can I do better? Where am I falling short? How can I improve and strengthen my faith life? While self-reflection during Lent is important, maybe throughout this lenten season, we can challenge ourselves to ask a different set of questions. Questions that move from “I” to “we.”
Throughout life, we spend time tending to our skills, our education, or other areas of our lives. We do things to create the most impressive, exceptional and prepared version of ourselves so that we can serve others when and where we are needed. But, do we ever really feel like we’ve achieved the truly ideal version of ourselves?
In moments like these, while it is important to strive for improvement in areas of our lives, it is also important to recognize that we are called to offer our strengths in serving others now, in this moment. God calls us to a community, one where people are welcome regardless of where they are or how they come. God calls us to radical inclusion, where none are left out or left behind.
By being present in the present, we can live out God’s way of inclusion to create a place where all are welcome and we can work, grow, and live together in community.