The Journey of Lent on a Road Marked "Return"

“Some biblical texts say that the exile happened because of sin.  But sin is not the primary image used for the Israelites’ predicament – exile was their problem. … What they needed was not primarily forgiveness…, but a path out of exile, a way to return ‘home’. … [And] if our problem is exile, we need a path of return – we need ‘the way of the LORD’ as Isaiah 40:3 puts it.”

– Marcus Borg, Speaking Christian

Continuing our Journey of Lent this coming Sunday, we'll be exploring another gift of the season, that which could be called "return".  Using the Israelites' experience of exile as a connecting point (pardon the pun), we can find ourselves cut off from any of a number of relationships that help to give our lives definition, meaning, place, and belonging.  As a result, we drift in the sea of insignificance, isolation, discouragement, and alienation.  In this case, forgiveness is not the remedy; "return" is.  Now, depending upon the circumstances that led to the exile, it may be that repentance is a necessary precursor to return.  But repentance isn't the end goal; returning home to the community which grounds us is.

We can experience exile from spouse, children, extended family, workplace, church or faith community, social groups, or individuals.  Some have experienced exile in the form of incarceration, and "return" in the form of serving one's sentence or being paroled has a poignancy that some of us can't even imagine.

Whatever the cause of the alienation, when return is possible, the restoration of well being is often enough to swamp out the worst of the exile, so hungry for acceptance and belonging is the human soul.  Rich images of return from exile abound in the Biblical literature and in our experience, and it will be this that will provide focus for our traditional worship services this Sunday.

If anyone has stories of exile-and-return that you're willing to share, I'd be more than happy to receive them and work them in on Sunday, if appropriate.  God's peace be with you in the week ahead.

Speaking of positive images of Lent, what are taking on this season (as opposed to giving up) as a life-giving spiritual practice?

Steve
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