Lenten Reflection: Tuesday in the First Week of Lent

“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.” ― Howard Thurman

Recently, after participating in a diversity group at my place of work, I discovered the course “Sacred Ground” offered through Good Shepherd. The timing of the course through church was not lost on me. I needed to delve deeper into the subject of racism using the Holy Spirit as my guide. The title of the class, “Sacred Ground” was exactly what it turned out to be. We, as a group, were indeed treading on sacred ground, learning about and opening our hearts to truths concealed in American history. I am drawn to Howard Thurman’s quote above; …if you cannot hear, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.” “The genuine” in me is the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that led me to this topic, to this course, to this group, to this mind shift and to this greater awareness. Now the class has ended and the Holy Spirit is still working, perhaps this time with added expectation. Is this not Jesus’s main message? Love others―all others―as you would want to be loved. It is time.

-Liz Cannon

How is the Holy Spirit guiding you to pay attention to racism? What is stirring in you?