Being of Service in the Valley

“Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a scepter but a hoe.” Bernard of Clairvaux

I have been reading an interesting book, Six Frigates, by Ian W. Toll. It is the story of the founding of the United States Navy after the Revolution up to and including the War of 1812. I haven’t finished it yet, but it is a fascinating tale. I have especially enjoyed seeing how the debates in congress regarding holding the line on taxes and spending have not changed a whit in nearly two and a half centuries. Only the names of the players have changed.

One of the sagas Toll relates regards the Frigate Chesapeake. If ever there was an ill-starred ship, that was it. No matter who was in charge, she never seemed to be ready for whatever she faced. She was stopped, boarded, and became an embarrassment to the country in peace time, and she was soundly beaten by a slightly inferior foe (and dragged off in chains, so to speak, and paraded before her enemies to her shame) in wartime.  

Why had the Chesapeake failed against a roughly equal opponent while her sister Frigate (the Constitution) had succeeded in her contests?

One factor was simply a matter of dumb luck. In the days of sailing ships, taking out a rudder, wheel, or mast would drastically reduce a ship’s chances in battle.

Secondly, the Chesapeake had a fairly new crew with little or no experience with their guns. They simply had not practiced. Their opponents, on the other hand, were experienced and captained by an officer who was fanatical about training.

While luck played a part, the primary difference was in the level of training amongst the players.

What has that got to do with faith?

Well, as we make our way into the season of Lent this week, which begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5^th, I think it is good to note the purpose of the season isn’t to flog our members, but to train ourselves up for service. We serve our God and our community better when we practice our faith.

How exactly does one “practice” their faith? Well, first of all, by just “doing it”.

We learn to pray and to pray better by praying regularly. We make time to pray upon waking, morning, noon-time, afternoon, evening, and when heading to bed. We pray before each meal. We end each meal with a prayer of thanksgiving. What I have learned is that it is harder to get into trouble or to misbehave if one’s mind is focused on talking to God who stands and sits beside us, and who also lives within us. So praying regularly and often throughout the day should help us become more of one mind with God, making the aim of our prayers to be more faithful and effective in our daily living.

Second of all, we are called to read scripture. Don’t think of the characters as dusty old people from long ago and far away. Put yourself in their shoes. These are your stories, really. The Gospels tell the story of Jesus asking YOU to be a disciple; of God healing YOU when you were sick; of God taking YOUR side when you were beat down or hungry. This is God humbling YOU when you got too big for your britches.

Practice putting yourself in the picture and see if that doesn’t help you become more faithful and humble as a child of God. The purpose of reading scripture isn’t the memorization of verses, but the transformation of lives.

The third thing we are called to do is review our own lives and take those things that do not measure up to God’s expectations, and throw them out like the trash. Take your resentments, laziness, or egotism and throw them away, and replace them with the fresh springtime flowers of forgiveness, fervor, and humility.

The point is, Lent is a season that invites us to clear the decks for action – not to destroy, but to bring the kingdom of heaven closer in our own lives, and in the lives of those around us. It’s my desire that God should be the master of my fate and the captain of my soul in this, our valley. Happy sailing.