Today's Reflection

[Alexander Phan]

Hi Roots,

Today's First Reading is from Jeremiah, where we got our group name, so naturally, it reminded me of you all. I have been praying for you all today, in gratitude for you all and for your intentions. 

I prepared a reflection for today because I had a communion service planned, but of course it got cancelled due to COVID 19. So I thought I'd share it with you all. If you have time like me because everything got cancelled, feel free to read it. If not, just wanted to say hello. :)

Jeremiah 17:5-10
Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the desert
that enjoys no change of season,
But stands in a lava waste,
a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.
More tortuous than all else is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?
I, the LORD, alone probe the mind
and test the heart,
To reward everyone according to his ways,
according to the merit of his deeds.  

Yesterday, I was preparing to pray at my usual time and place, but I had misplaced the blue pen I always use to journal. So, instead of praying, I spent the next 15 minutes searching our three-story house to find any blue pen. Of course, this venture was unsuccessful, so I settled on writing in black. (I know, tough life decisions) It ended up being a very fruitful prayer period, and marking up my journal with a different color was not the end of the world. (And yes, I still have my strange quirks)

As I reflected on it, and I thought how my need for control in such a small way, affected how I encounter God. It reminds me how easy it can be for us to be so stuck in our ways that we do not make room for God. It can be something as insignificant as a pen color, or our over reliance on ourselves. Or it can be things that we don't like to spend too much time thinking about: our past hurts, our current stresses, our fears. 

I think this is what the Prophet Jeremiah meant when he says: "More tortuous than all else is the human heart." We can consciously or unconsciously create blocks, twists, and turns in our heart--distancing ourselves from God and leaving these areas barren.

There's good news. God wants to work through it. "I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart." God is always reaching for us, even in the darkest corners of our heart. 

Lent is a time of simplifying, paring down, letting go, so 1) we can be aware of the areas in our life that we need God and 2) we can let God in and place our trust in Him. During this Lenten season, let us reflect on ways we can let go, big or small so that we can place greater trust in God. When we do, it is like we are a "tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream." Even in the midst of the stresses of life or the fears and anxiety that's in today's world, we can still thrive, growing far reaching branches and bearing fruit for others. 

Miss you all. 

-Alex