“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
What might it mean to understand heaven as near or at hand?
Not just a place, physically far away…
not just a plane of existence beyond time and space…
not just a hereafter something to be yearned for…
but also a proximate possibility that we can experience glimpses of here and now.
And how might anchoring ourselves in this proximate possibility shift even the way we think about repentance or making change? Further, how might we allow this to frame how we think of whatever it is to which we commit ourselves during Lent?
During this Lenten season (and beyond) may we find the courage to place less emphasis on individual deprivation and more emphasis on ushering in true change that moves us all toward solidarity with Christ and community prepares us to experience heaven here on earth.
Heaven is a proximate possibility. It is here; it is near. With all that is going on within and around us, it can be hard to believe. I’m grateful for glimpses I get each day.
What would help you pay attention to the glimpses of heaven you might see in your own life?
--Javon Bracy
Reframe means taking a fresh look at an old story.
It’s a way of experiencing your world differently, even though the landscape may seem similar.