An absorbing pastime for those interested in their fellow human beings is to sit and watch the people passing by. As we observe them we may try to decide what may be their "job" or profession. In doing this we are assuming that people's way of life shows in their manner, behaviour, or dress. There going by is the top executive . . . the teacher . . . the sensitive sufferer . . . the giddy youth . . . or the rebel. What life does with us in moulding our disposition and habitual attitude is observable.
In Lent it is customary for believers to stop in prayer and take stock of how habits show in disposition and behaviour. It can be a "bit of an eye opener" to realise that our daily way of life in work or leisure is affecting us so much. As we think about such things we may decide to take a "jolly good look" at our own disposition to life and in particular our habitual attitudes. Habits have to be made. Sometimes there is the need to break habits.
The word "new" in the Lent en Collect gives a clear indication of the necessity to have a "spring clean" of our habits: "Create and make in us new and contrite hearts . . ." We may have drifted into the habit of conforming to circumstances, of following current fashion, and have lost the believer's vision and zest to be transformers. We pray to the Holy Spirit to reveal the need to think afresh about our habitual attitudes. He will jolt us into new thinking. Rather than being content with a vague idea of how to keep Lent we decide to be specific and lay emphasis on our habitual caring.
It is healthy to remember the old description of a parish as "The Cure of Souls", a place where there is sincere caring for people at the deepest level. The source and inspiration of God's vision for the world and of every individual is expressed by Saint John: "God so loved (so cared for) the world that He gave . . ."
The habit of caring for our neighbour . . . for each individual . . .is to be seen in the story of the Samaritan. When he arrived on the scene his habitual caring disposition immediately sprang into action. Happily we all have had the privilege of knowing people with that habitual attitude of caring. One might say of them that they almost seem to be "straining at the leash" in their readiness to show they care. Is that the kind of habit we would want in ourselves, rather than reluctant or measured giving? Lent would be worth keeping if it only warned us of the danger of becoming aloof or mean in our caring.
An honest look at our way of life, at our budgeting, at our concern for others, may reveal that we are existing but not living and loving in the way of the generous God. The writer of the first Epistle of Saint John may have been like those who study people passing by. He could discern the way a rich man's way of life could dull sympathy for others. He asks the question: "If a man has enough to live on, and yet when he sees his brother in need shuts up his heart against him, how can it be said that the divine love dwells in him?"
The real strong habit of caring is stirred by deep gratitude to God for His mercy: "He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others . . . using the same help that we ourselves have received from God."
Cast they care on Jesus
Nothing is too small
For His vast compassion;
He can feel for all.