Clear

Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that’s a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as it walks about in the world. This isn’t new. Historically, the church has talked about the spiritual disciplines in two directions and like the great commandment, these two sides of the same coin cannot ultimately be separated. That is why this series is about doing both – looking inward and moving outward. We are learning to live inside out.

God was very clear that Adam and Eve could eat the fruit from every tree in the garden except one. However, after a just a little encouragement by the serpent, they both ate the forbidden fruit and faced the consequences. What does this story tell us about our internal inclination to ignore God and “do our own thing” and how does that usually work out? How can we do better as we walk in the world?