We are called to action

Ash Wednesday, 2016.  Blogging for Lent, yet again.

On the advent of Ash Wednesday and Lent, I try to find something to add to my life to help me walk closer with God during the 40 days of Lent.  Last year, I started this blog to provide one positive on the Internet each day.  Tonight, I've 'dusted' off the blog because I am just aching to write about several signs I've received today that I can't sit by and ignore anymore, and I think they lend themselves to a pretty good challenge for Lent, 2016.

Over the course of the day, here's what I saw/read/heard:

Sign #1:  Driving by a church today, the church sign says "Pray.  Vote.  Pray again."
Sign #2:  Ash Wednesday service at my church.  Lenten theme:  "We make the path by walking"
Sign #3:  Part of an article I read today on CatholicVote: "Catholic Social Teaching tells us that we as Christians have an obligation to help those less fortunate, it states that it should be done through good will by faith, not by government action."

As I retype my signs of today, the refrain from "We Are Called" by David Haas plays through my mind,
"We are called to act with justice.
We are called to love tenderly.
We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God."

So, I listen to the song and I reread these signs and one word keeps repeating in my head (think mantra here...) "ACTION".  As Christians (ok, as HUMANS - regardless of religious affiliation here), we are called to action.  We must not sit passively by and let others (or governments) do what we are called to do.  It is each individual (you, me) who must love, serve, assist, feed, pray for the poor, hungry, sick and marginalized.  In the action of our doing, it changes us to be more compassionate and loving human beings.  

It is in our ACTION that is what changes the world.  During these 40 days of Lent, I challenge you to rise out of your comfort zone and do something to assist those that need you.  Be mindful about your actions, but be action-able!  We must stop the "I want to appear good without actually doing anything" attitude of our world. 

So, I've set the challenge for myself.  I encourage you to do the same.  I'll be blogging about this journey for Lent - I'd like you to let me know how you're doing on yours.

In fact, if you want a good role model who is called to ACTION, view this:  http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/9-Who-Care-Paul-Rehn-A-Legacy-of-Serving-368176281.html

Thanks, Paul Rehn.