Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
Matthew 10:9-14 ESV
In our Bible study last week at Sisters In Sobriety the phrase People, Places, & Things came up. It’s not the first time we’ve heard this, it’s very familiar. But this particular week I’ve found myself thinking about it a lot…
The familiarity of everyday living—the people, the places, the things, often stand in the way of our ability to see areas where we might need a change.
Today the Gift of Grace is to “Shake Off The Dust”.
Open the Grace {Day 4} 40 Gifts for 40 Days
Walking away from life as we’ve always known it—is no easy task.
The call to leave it all behind feels daunting.
“Who will be my people?”
“Will I be loved?”
“Will I find acceptance?”
“Can I survive without the things that make me feel in control?”
Oftentimes all we need is a simple reset to gain a new perspective.
It’s like “Shaking off the dust…”
Certainly there are circumstances that are way more complex and will require hard work & determination.
Being intentional with our thought life and what we spend our time on can help keep us from returning to the familiarity that often leads to toxic behavior, clearing the path to wholeness.
I believe that Lent provides such a space.
On Day 4 we’re making space for a little reflection…
Prayerfully consider what your Lenten journey might look like. If you’re just coming into the conversation, no worries. You’re not too late. That why we’re calling it a journey. There’s grace for us to go at our own pace.
A few questions I asked myself in preparing for what I chose to fast during Lent…
Is it life-giving?
Is it a tool of distraction?
Do I control it or does it control me?
Over the next few weeks we’ll discuss the the remaining pillars, Giving & Prayer.
There’s much to be discovered & understood. So we’re taking a simple approach, easing our way into what seems to be something very special, sacred even.
Hopefully we’ll be able to grasp the essence of Lent along the way and unearth something meaningful from what we experience. We hope you’ll join us. —CC
“‘In him we live and move and have our being…” —Acts 17:28
THE PEARL COMMUNITY 