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

And let the brothers who know how to work, labor and exercise themselves in that art they may understand, if it be not contrary to the salvation of their
soul, and they can exercise it becomingly. —Saint Francis

I was not an “outdoorsy” child. I liked creative indoor pursuits, making and thinking activities. Then, one summer in college, out of necessity, I worked at a Christian summer camp where I hoped to lead safe “indoorsy” activities like newspaper, crafts and drama. Yet, for some reason, I, the least likely candidate, was put in charge of the “nature” enrichment activity. That summer, the “Nature Hut” consisted of a few goats, some turtles, a dilapidated shack and a lonely old pony. There was no curriculum or program to follow: just me, a handful of campers and the Hut, all left to find our way together. So, we did. I turned to the work and labor I knew: imaginary play, crafting, storytelling and party-throwing. I asked the campers for input and ideas, and together, despite our motley origins, we all thrived with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The Hut is where I learned that we and our gifts are all linked: the soil, the turtles, the campers, the goats, me, the trees and God. I experienced firsthand how, without the care of humans, the  goats, turtles and the pony languished. And how, without them, the campers and I—humans who didn’t fit in at sports ball, horseback riding or ropes courses—also languished. It turned out that we needed each other. We needed to care for and share our talents and beings with one another. We needed to love each other with the love of God, the kind that gives unselfishly, that is patient and kind, that is honest and true, the kind of love that values every living thing as Christ. In that love, we all found belonging: the turtles and goats, me and the campers, the trees and the Spirit.

For REFLECTION:

Is there a ministry in your faith community that is languishing? Is it time to let it die, or is it time to re-imagine it according to the gifts present in your community?

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.