This season of Lent that just ended reminds me how important commitment is. You see, I intended to write a bit each day of Lent in my blog, but I didn't actually make a commitment to do that. Without the commitment and stick-to-it-ive-ness commitment brings, I only jotted a couple of daily notes in my blog. My commitment was to read the book I wrote daily and I believe there was only one time I had to "catch up on" a day that I missed. Commitment was the key. I knew I had about 50 people reading along with me, and I wanted to be faithful to the commitment, just as they were.
What a reminder for our lives. I am certain we all have good intentions that just never get followed through with. It is such a human trait. I don't feel overwhelming guilt for not writing in my blog this Lent, though there is just a twinge of that. The key would have been committing to it. I didn't.
So - what am I committed to?
Number one is faithfulness to God. Basic to that is my commitment to God's Word as the written authority over my life. My goal is that my relationship with God will be reflected in my relationships with others. Only God will know if I succeed in mirroring Him. One day I will stand before Him, and His grace to me will cover the times I didn't succeed.
Two is faithfulness to and unconditional love for my immediate family including the very dear "chosen people" they bring to the family through marriage.
Three is to extended family, people I "adopt" as family, and to my dearest friends.
Beyond that I am committed to trying to be kind in every circumstance. Kindness is not to be confused with nice. Sometimes kindness means being forthright and honest even when it isn't welcomed.
The Covid-19 Pandemic has been very strange in its isolation. One of my most salient commitments prior to the Pandemic was the Biblical mandate: Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is, even so much the more as you see The Day approaching. (Not sure that is the exact word-for-word quote so I am not putting it in quotes.) I haven't been in church since early March 2000. I quarantined on March 8. But my desire to be in worship corporately is not forsaken. I "go to church" online, and while it is wonderful to have that opportunity, it does not take the place of congregational worship and connection with others who are in worship. Worshipping together is powerful. It gives me pause to think about how things have changed.
It is good for us to think about what our true commitments are and actions speak louder than words. Food for thought!
