Theme for Week One
Cultivating Faithfulness
In cultivating a life of faithfulness, a life where good fruit grows in us, we are not called to be satisfied with appearances. I do not want simply to appear to be joyful, to have discovered a way to fake patience. I want those to be fruits growing from a deep soil in me.
- Brian Cole
For the first full week of Lent, we will focus on the fruit of faithfulness. We start with this fruit because faithfulness provides the rich soil from which all other fruits of the Spirit grow.
An online search for synonyms for the word faithful yields the following: trustworthy, consistent, persevering, honest, resolute, steadfast, true, sincere, dependable, and conscientious. Who doesn’t aspire to live a life described in this way?
In yesterday’s reflection, Brian Cole reminded us that faithfulness is not something that can be done for appearance. It cannot be faked. Faithfulness, like a well-tended garden, requires a depth of commitment and character over time.
And faithfulness does not protect us from adversity but prepares us for it, as we see in the story of Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness. Just as Jesus’ preparation wasn’t for the wilderness specifically, but came from being “fully with God,” our faithfulness grows from that same deep connection.
At many churches in the service for adult baptism, the person being baptized promises to live a life of faith with the words, “I will, with God’s help.” As we commit to a life of faithfulness this Lent and beyond, may we also affirm that with God’s help, this is our shared journey.
Making it Personal: What words would you use to describe faithfulness? Who has modeled faithfulness for you? How did they do that? What help do you need from others and from God now to cultivate greater faithfulness?
Listen To Our Lent Podcast Episodes
We also invite you to listen to the Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Podcast hosted by Scott Stoner. This is a year-round, weekly podcast; however, during Lent, there will be two new episodes each week to enrich your experience of our Lenten readings on Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit.
You can listen to the podcast on our website by clicking HERE. You can also find this podcast in your favorite podcast listening app (Apple, Google, Spotify, etc.)—just search for Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness