“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”

That is a quotation from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (please excuse the gender-specific language).  I have long treasured these words, since I know that, when faced with my frailties and enduring imperfections, the easiest way to avoid the pain is to lie to myself.  It usually does not start out in a grand manner – rather, I pretend something didn’t really happen; or I excuse my own bad behaviour as I was tired.  There are many other ways of avoiding – but in the end, this is about lying to oneself.  And Dostoevsky points out that lying is only the first dangerous step.  What follows is that we become uncertain about the truth about ourselves.  Deep down, our self-respect is lessened – and so our respect for others decreases.  It is a long slippery slope.

Yet Lent is a time to pause – a time for a truce, with ourself and God.  Can we notice and admit those little indications that things are not going well?  And that we are ready to take some responsibility for this?  This is not self-abasement; rather, Lent is a season for increased truth-telling.  Rejoice in what is going well (that helps with noticing when things don’t).  And when there are painful moments of recognition, simply acknowledge that.  I find it so easy to jump immediately to promising to do better, or beating myself up for not being perfect.  Wait!  First, tell yourself the truth – action and reformation will follow later.  God’s grace is required for that; and God’s timing is not to be rushed.

1 Peter 5 has these comforting words: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that God may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you.”  Lent does not promise instant change.  Rather, it is a season for starting afresh, offering us a time for patience, humility and honesty.  Let’s see where that lead us.

 Revd Bob

Services this Sunday – 22^nd February – Lent 1

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Mary’s

10:30am – Café Church – The Holy Spirit – All Saints

The Week Ahead

Mon 23rd Feb

10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

Tue 24th Feb

10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

 7:30pm-9:00pm – Lent Groups, Vicarage

Wed 25th Feb

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

2:00pm-3:30pm – Lent Groups, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

Thu 26th Feb

10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

Sat 28th Feb

12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

Sun 1st Mar

10:00am – Creative Church, St Mary’s

10:30am – Holy Communion & Junior Church, All Saints

 6:30pm – Evensong, St Mary’s

Blessings,

Rev’d Lizzie