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

We are placed in this world, and it is in and through this world, not by the denial of it, that we shall come to know God. —Esther De Waal, A Life-Giving
Way

When our eldest child was fourteen, he let us know that he was queer. While in college, he began a committed relationship with a wonderful guy who also happened to be transgender (and who has since become a beloved member of our family). Over the years, our family has continued to grow and change, and now, all four of our children identify as LGBTQ in some way.

Like a lot of  mothers, I had expectations for my children’s future, most of which were based on my experiences as a cis-gender, straight, white, middle-class woman from the United States.

But as each of our children’s unique createdness was revealed, I was presented with a choice. I could cling to my expectations of what their lives—and our common life together—would look like, or I could release my expectations and open my heart and imagination to a new reality, a new world, one populated by my most favorite humans on this planet. Had I denied their truth and clung to my expectations of who or what they would be, I would have spent the rest of my life missing out on the beauty and gifts of who they are. And I would also miss out on the unique manifestation of the Divine—the Imago Dei, the Image of God—within them.

Only in and through this world, a world in which my children and your children are their authentic selves, and not by the denial of it, have I begun to understand what it means when we say we believe in a life-giving, loving, liberating God who gives all, gathers all and draws all toward shared wholeness.

For REFLECTION:

Is there a part of your world or life different than you expected? What might you learn about the love and nature of God through this change?

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.