Living Our Faith: Centering Habits

Hello, City Church. 

Today I want to share with you again about the Lenten practice of centering habits that we can participate in together as a church family. Most of you should have received a card in the mail with the three main habits that we hope to commit to together: to read, rest, and reconnect 

These habits are not new or novel, but they are simple and yet still profound. They are good for us—individually and as a community. Simple things may not always come easily, but they are are often helpful because they are foundational to our lives. 

For me, life in the pandemic—or if I am honest, life in general—requires many things of me or calls for my attention in such a way, that I can begin to feel disjointed or undone. I feel scattered and pulled in many directions, both in the tasks and needs of life, but also in my mind and my attention. These simple habits of reading, resting, and reconnecting are habits that can help to put me—to put us—back together again. These habits recenter our lives so that we can live as God made us to be, so we can do what God has given us to do. 

As I’ve thought about these habits, I have thought Colossians 3:14-17. In this passage, Paul is talking about the New Self that we have been given because of Jesus’ grace. Paul writes these words: 

[14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)

It is helpful for me to see how these habits have been part of the church since the very beginning… 

1. READ: We can let the word of Christ dwell in us richly by reading the Bible each day. God’s word takes root as we go to it regularly. This may be a quiet moment set aside as you begin your day—or the first available moment when the chaos of the day slows down.

2. REST: We can rest through worship as we sing together, practice, gratitude, join is worship in person or the live stream. We are refreshed by “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”—but also find rest when we thanksgiving shapes our worship, our lives, and our posture.

3. RECONNECT: We were made for community and connection and this passage reminds us that love is the foundation for our connection and our peace. With love as our life and peace and flourishing as our goal, we can move towards one another even after a season or void, disconnection or dissonance—this kind of love and peace leads to our deep union with Jesus and one another.

Lent is a season for preparation for the celebration of Easter, but Lent is also a season where we remember that we can always begin again. We can always start over. Let these simple habits be a reminder of the goodness of living in harmony with God and with others—and remember that these good centering habits can help to recenter and refresh us.