East Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts portrays the story of Elizabeth Gilbert who thought she had everything she wanted in life, a home, a husband and a successful career. Then she finds herself at a turning point. She is newly divorced and confused about what is important to her. She cultivates the courage to embark on a quest of self-discovery that takes her to Italy, India and Bali.
It’s a great movie to watch during Lent for we find that we are always at turning points in our lives.
Lent is a true conversion experience. Lent is about allowing and trusting rather than trying to figure something out. We listen and let the next step be revealed to us. Our ego strives for safety and certainty. Our Spirit longs to experience Love. Yet love is not found in a far away land. Love rushes into us as we bring ourselves wholeheartedly Present to Eat. Present to Pray and Present to Love.
In the Scripture Mark 14 a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly ointment and she poured the ointment on his head. But some said “why was the ointment wasted in this way?” Jesus answered “Let her alone. She has performed a good service for me. You will always have the poor with you , and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me.”
Joel Goldsmith writes in Living by Grace, “the goal of the mystical life is for us to become beholders of God in action.” Jesus appreciated what this woman did for him. The grumblers were finding issues.
The message to us today? The poor will always be with us along with the grumblers. Let us take no thought. We are here to Eat, Pray and Love.
Rev Janice
