Live in Color

Many give up something for Lent. I gave up my personal Facebook positing. It was a challenge. I automatically typed Facebook into my browser. One day I wrote a response to a friend about one of my favorite authors: Kurt Vonnegut. I realized it. I deleted it.

I believe Lent is not only a time of giving up something like Facebook and to learn social media is good in moderation. It is a time of reflection. It is a time of giving back. Maybe it’s a time of preparation.

I was called to loom 80-hats. I finished the 75th hat last night. I did not hit the arbitrary mark 80-hats. I reflected upon the joy I receive from making hats and the love I put into each one from choosing the colors from the donated yarn.

I once donated hats for a church’s community project and most the hats were from dark yarn. A church member walked up and stated, “We need hats only of dark colors, and I want hats that the homeless request.” I was momentarily sad yet I did not allow my joy to be taken. This parishioner called me after the distribution of clothes. She was delighted and exclaimed that all of the hats were taken in a matter of minutes.”

I then contemplated how many of us see only in the black and white, and how many of us truly see in color. There are some dark colored hats. The rest are in color. May the recipients feel love, joy and warmth.

Each morning during Lent, I place my headset on and listened to the hymn “We Are Called.”

“2. Come, open your heart!

Show your mercy to all those in fear!

We are called to be hope for the hopeless,

so all hatred and blindness will be no more!

Refrain: We are called to act with justice;

we are called to love tenderly.

We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.”

I encourage you to live in color and listen to how you are being called.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDljPsRIryo