Episcopal Relief & Development’s 2025 LENTEN Meditation Journey . . . A COMMONPLACE Lent

Wherever you go, you will find that what you are running from is there ahead of you. —Anonymous

Years ago, I heard an elder in our church explain to a new member from a different Christian tradition why she didn’t believe there was a hell in the afterlife. “Oh, honey,” she said in her very prim Southern drawl, “I have already been to hell. I have been there and back. Hell is what we do to each other and ourselves. God doesn’t need to inflict hell; we take care of that ourselves.”

Scripture is filled with stories of atonement, judgment and confusion, readings we might prefer to skip or dismiss as archaic or limiting. Yet, I think we should give them another look, particularly within the context of community.

As we work toward honoring the dignity of every human being and building bridges between and beyond ourselves to the world, it might benefit us all to consider how all our actions impact those around us. How often have you or someone you know become disgruntled and changed churches, jobs, neighborhoods or relationships, only to be met by similar problems and challenges? How many lives have been damaged in small and great ways because instead of doing the work to heal, learn, grow or change right where they (we) were, within the community they (we) have been planted in, they (we) looked for the quick fix of greener grass? We know that hurt people hurt people. But are we selfaware enough to admit that sometimes we are the hurt people who are hurting other people?

If that elder was right and hell is something we create, then perhaps hell is also something we can eradicate if, with God’s help, we stop running and start healing ourselves and our communities.

For REFLECTION:

Have you experienced the “greener grass syndrome”? What was the outcome? What did you learn?

Click here to read the introduction to the 2025 Lenten Meditation “A Commonplace Lent.”

The Lenten Meditations prepared by Episcopal Relief & Development invite readers to deepen their spiritual practice during the season of Lent, the time of preparation leading to Easter. Our 2025 meditations explore the idea of “A Commonplace Lent.” This concept reflects Episcopal Relief & Development’s tagline: “Working Together for Lasting Change.” We share in common the work of advancing lasting change in communities impacted by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change.

We also share in common spiritual practices that strengthen our faith—prayer, worship, love, grace, service and so much more. The author explores another meaning of common in the  meditations: finding God in the common and ordinary as well as in the extraordinary mountain-top moments. Each day begins with wisdom from desert mothers and fathers, monastics and other spiritual leaders who offer insight into our common path of faithful discipleship and service. Each meditation concludes with a question for deeper reflection.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the compassionate response of The Episcopal Church to human suffering in the world. Hearing God’s call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being, Episcopal Relief & Development serves to bring together the generosity of Episcopalians and others with the needs of the world.

This Lenten Meditation Journey is provided courtesy of Episcopal Relief & Development and was authored by Jerusalem Jackson Greer, co-executive director and agrarian minister for the Procter Center, an Episcopal farm, camp and retreat center in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. As former manager of evangelism and discipleship for The Episcopal Church under Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, she co-founded the Good News Garden movement and oversaw Way of Love and Evangelism initiatives for the wider church.