Weekly Devotion February 29, 2024

Faith and Flooring

The new floor in the Wesley building lobby is almost completely installed. This project is part of a long process we started this year of updating the lobby with paint, furniture, decorations, and, of course, new floors. Thank you to everyone who contributed their volunteer labor and funds for this much needed project.

But, the flooring project was most interesting to me. I never really thought about the floor until my attention was directed to it. My eyes rarely looked down, I only saw the need for paint and other eye-catching décor. Our project coordinator said, “We need to do this. The original brown tiles have turned green!” Really? Green? So I walked to the building and turned my head down. Sure enough, it was obvious. I saw the green haze on every single tile in the room. Fourteen years of sunlight damaged the color and finish of the tiles. Now I can’t stop seeing it every time I walk through that space. Many of you told me you, too, never noticed the ugly green haze until I brought it up in worship.

We didn’t notice the need for new flooring until someone called our attention to it.

The same is true of our Christian life. We are about halfway through the season of Lent and I’ve been preaching about avoiding the seven deadly sins and encouraging the seven virtues. I’m calling attention to the spiritual equivalent of our ugly green flooring that we need to renovate.

This season and this sermon series made me look at my own weaknesses and need for Christ’s grace. When I preached about gluttony, I became acutely aware of my absent-minded snacking and unhealthy choices on my plate. When I preached about envy and greed, I saw all the places in my heart where I was obsessed with other people’s successes and my own unhealthy desire for material things. This week–Wrath and Patience. Lord have mercy on me! I have felt wrath more times over the last couple of years than ever before in my life. Maybe you have, too.

I’m grateful for this Lenten season even if it is unpleasant to face the places I need to do better in my spirit. We need sermons and people and disciplines to help us look at the weak or broken places we never notice. I’m thankful to God for the opportunity to rip it out those ugly places out and start anew with Christ’s forgiveness, love, and grace. Thank God for the renovation of the spirit and happy Lent to us all!

Peace,
Rev. Zack