Flower

“Consider the lilies,” begins the passage. Indeed! Let’s consider the lilies. It’s no secret that Lent is a time of study and discipline. What an opportunity! Given the hectic pace of campus life and American culture in general, I would argue that the moments one is offered to consider the lilies are too few. Let me explain. 

Perspective is important, and lilies are just an example. Taking the blinders off, and pocketing the AirPods allows one to see more and more deeply. As you pass the construction worker across the street or the chickadee huddled in a bush, think what they’re experiencing. Try to create a mental image if their reality was your reality.

Probably around the time I was an undergraduate student, I was taught a prayer practice that has stuck with me. The challenge was to pray for my enemies. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t at war with anyone, so I had to dig to find a few individuals who were rubbing me the wrong way. Praying for them allowed me to create a mental image of the person and gave me a shred of empathy.

Heavenly diverse God, Hear our prayer for space. Space to visualize the rarely seen and rarely considered. We pray for tomorrow to come when we’ve run out of space for today. In your name we pray.

Casey Sweeny, 2012

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

Luke 12:27