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I often suffer from ‘letter mix-up’ when typing ‘church’ and write ‘chruch’ instead. Some describe church and faith as ‘crutches’ and they’re dead right, but they’re also much more than crutches. The ‘air’ and ‘water’ are essential crutches, without which we couldn’t survive. There are loving relationships, without which we are bereft. The truth is that, to be human and live a fulfilling life, requires ‘dependency’ and ‘interdependency’. But, also inbuilt in our ‘being human’ is a tendency to ‘go it alone’, to be god of our own life and destiny; as Frank Sinatra sang it, doing it ‘My Way!’

That’s our choice, but it can become a very lonely choice, which cuts off and isolates us from the care, and concern of others. At funerals our faces are rubbed in the bleak truth that we are helpless to save ourselves in death; that our own two legs and ego, which supported us through life, are not dependable, eternal crutches. I believe Jesus is one who won’t let you down when life seems lost forever; that, like the air we inhale, God’s Spirit is able to keep breathing eternal life into our souls, which have learned to depend on him in this life.

This Wednesday is the start of Lent, 40 days (excluding Sundays), which prepare for Easter Sunday and a glorious celebration of Jesus victory over our sin, separation, and death. I don’t usually fast (go without) in this period, but this year I’ve challenged us all at Fullarton ‘Chruch’ to exclude something from daily life (except for Sundays, which 52 times a year celebrate Jesus’ coming alive again). We may go without alcohol, chocolate, tv, facebook, twitter, lunch or breakfast each Wednesday, the options are endless. It’s not to puff up spiritual pride and swell ego, rather to highlight our need for God’s daily help to live well. Jesus assumed that ‘fasting & praying’ would be a natural part of our daily walk with him; and it’s a helpful way of identifying with Jesus as he journeys towards death on the cross.

Whatever you do with Lent, I intend using it to allow God to sort and sift all things which threaten God’s number one position in my life, ‘Crutches’ without which I can live which point me to the One, God without whom I really can’t live or hope to survive death. Happy Lighter Lenten Living y’all!