Such a commitment to selfless love—of eccentric identity—is one that requires a lifetime commitment of practiced disciplines. We have to learn to identify those things that keep us from this kind of love- whether it be external commitments of time and energy or internal fears and assumptions. Again, Lent provides us an opportunity to try out these disciplines with the benefit of both a defined period of time and the collective support of others doing the same.
While emptiness can feel like something to fear- even threatening- we embrace the promise of God, that even in the face of our enemies, we can declare, "my cup overflows"!
About Jamie Arpin-Ricci: Having spent over 20 years living in missional communities throughout Canada and the U.S., Jamie Arpin-Ricci brings his experience as a pastor and missionary to his passion for teaching and writing. Arpin-Ricci, along with his Australian wife & Ethiopian son, share life in inner city Winnipeg, Canada, where he serves as a pastoral leader at Little Flowers Community, a missional church he helped found. He also serves as co-director of Youth With A Mission Urban Ministries Winnipeg.
Visit the Patheos Book Club on Jamie Arpin-Ricci's new book, Vulnerable Faith: Missional Living in the Radical Way of St. Patrick, for a book excerpt, a video about his new book, and more.
References:
- 1. The Allergic Pagan.
- 2. "Borrowing Lent for Pagans," The Allergic Pagan.
- 3. Slavery of Death (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2013), 59.
- 4. Ibid, 70.
- 5. Ibid, 77.
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