Early last month I “attended” (I Zoomed in) the ELCA Youth Ministry Network conference known as The Extravaganza. The theme this year was “Enough”. Between workshops and speakers, we covered “Enough” from numerous angles. And I’ve been pondering the theme since.
For those who observe Lent and engage in a Lenten disciple, giving up something (a favorite drink or snack for example) is pretty common. But what if this Lent we considered the things that were “enough”? Enough having, enough being, enough doing, and yelling ENOUGH!
What does it mean in our consumeristic culture to have enough? Companies are constantly telling us we need more or bigger or faster. But do we? I think most of us would agree that the pandemic showed many of us that we in fact do not need more stuff. In fact, we might be better off with less stuff. In one of my seminary classes we read a document published by the Lutheran World Federation. There’s a piece of information in it from 2007, so it’s a bit out of date. The document shares that Oxfam reported in 2007 that the 8 wealthiest individuals in the world own as much wealth as the poorest 3.6 BILLION people. When does one have enough possessions? There’s a Bible story of a man who builds a bigger barn to store his bigger harvest. And then dies immediately after. Of what use is it to have so much?
Along with stuff, our culture often tells us we are not enough…not thin enough, not attractive enough, not athletic enough, not cool enough. So we try our best to be those things, instead of being ourselves, however uncool that may be by someone else’s standards. All humans are made in the likeness and image of God, scripture tells us. What if we returned often to Genesis 1 and remembered that in creating humans, God declared it was very good? Whether you are one who gave birth to children and whose body is not the same as before kids, or someone who feels their talents aren’t measuring up, or wish you belonged to that group; today you are enough. Of course, healthy goals can be a good thing…with healthy attitude and motivation. But we are works in progress, so a little grace is a good thing.
And that includes in our doing. That was another lesson of the pandemic, wasn’t it, doing enough? Like having more, doing more is not always the best approach to life. In the ministry world, many pastors and staff unfortunately experienced that during COVID. The level of burnout in the ministry and medical fields went through the roof. Part of our doing more is connected to our having more and our sense of being more. Students pile on the AP classes to have a better college application so the elite university will be impressed. We do more because there is more to do, but fewer hands so then, if we don’t do more, things won’t get done and people will be upset. Enough!
There is certainly plenty to which we need to say, “Enough!”. I have enough, I am enough, I’m doing enough.
Are there things to which we need to yell “ENOUGH!”? I can think of a few…racism, gun violence, poverty, discrimination against LGBTQIA siblings…what would you add? I suspect that at the root of our need to have, be, and do enough is fear. Fear that we are missing out on something, fear of others, fear to be ourselves, among others. There is enough. Our focus needs to shift from ourselves to others having enough in all aspects of life…food, security, healthcare, education.
The Gospel stories tell us of another way of living that says there is enough for all, there’s no need to fear the other, and that we are ALL beloved children of God. As we go deeper into Lent, in what way can you see that you have enough, are enough, and do enough? Maybe that means passing on a purchase, or not obsessing over skipping the gym this week, or saying “No” to allow time for rest or prayer (maybe by coloring). Is there a way for you help someone else to have enough? Whatever enough looks like for you this Lent, know that you are enough.
Blessings!
Leave a Reply