Lent / Tarot / Potential: The Ace of Coins

Lord Frederic Leighton: The Widow's Prayer 

"When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, 'I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.'"

I love this passage.

When I'm going through dark times and finding it hard to have faith, I read passages like this and recognize, again, that Jesus was something special. My lack of faith is a sea of darkness; he is the high beam of a lighthouse.

He gets it.

Few do.

Relativists insist that Jesus is like other teachers. He's another Lao Tzu or Buddha or Mohammed or Thor. No, he's not. I know because I've read other scriptures. Jesus is unique.

***

There's a phrase I can't stand: "I wish I could do something."

We can all do something. If we want to do something, we do it. If we don't want to do something, we don't do it.

If you want to do something, do it, no matter how small.

Want to save the world but you can't? Sit down, right now, and write a check to an organization that is working on something you care about.

I earn a laughably small sum of money. I donate – modest sums – to a number of organizations: St Jude's Hospital, World Wildlife Fund, Audubon Society, Humane Society, public radio. If someone who lives paycheck to paycheck and subsists on rice and beans, can "do something" *you* can do something.

Pray for someone. Send a card. Offer a shoulder. Make a call. Pay someone a compliment. Connect two people who might enhance each other's lives. Remember someone's birthday or anniversary or story and remind him or her. Forgive someone. Assume the best of another person. Hold your anger. Hold your insult. Encourage others.

Don't say to people, "I wish I could do something."

Jesus is urging you on, with the widow's mite story.

Today's reflection brought to you by the randomly drawn tarot card, the ace of coins.