Reflecting on Home

In the classic movie version of “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy discovered after her adventure that “There’s no place like home.”  What does the word “home” connote for you?  What would it mean for you, then, to become “homeless”?  List a few of the things you would lose (in addition to the obvious) if you lost your housing.

Take a few moments to pray for those who do not have a home and for those who are in the process of losing their home.  Also pray that God will use our Compact, 40 Days for Shelter, to do a new work in your heart and to lead you to take action on behalf of others.  Finally, pray for the others that are entering the Compact at Kimball Avenue Church, Faith Church in Lancaster, PA, and across the nation.

The first “rule” of the Lenten Compact is “give up making unnecessary home improvement, furniture or home decor purchases (either at a store or online)”.  Do you think that will be easy or difficult for you?  What (if any) additional steps such as not decorating for holidays, turning down your heat or vacating a room are you choosing?  Suggestion:  tell someone else who is participating in the Compact what actions you are taking and ask them to hold you accountable.

Welcome to the 2012 Lenten Compact, 40 Days For Shelter.  Each day from now until Easter (except Sundays), a Scripture, reflection questions, articles and information to hep you engage in the issue of home, housing and security will be posted on this site.  While this could easily be an individual exercise, we encourage you to discuss your thoughts with others and make comments.  Together, let’s “fast” and pray that God’s kingdom will come and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

How do you see God’s word through Isaiah (vs 1-5) applying to our nation?  Think of an example of how we “seem eager” to know God, yet do what we please.

On this first day of Lent as we begin our “fast”, we are confronted with how empty fasting can be. Isaiah reminds us that self-denial for the sake of self-denial is pointless.  It is meant to result in action on behalf of others.   List the actions Isaiah identifies.  Which actions seem easy?  Which actions seem more difficult?  Why do you think it is easier for churches to give money to a homeless shelter than to petition the county for funds to build more affordable or subsidized housing in their community?  Why is “loosing the chains of injustice” so difficult?