Janet Boldt spoke on “Come and get it, if you want it!” followed by a musical reflection by Ernie Doerksen (“Holy Now” written by Peter Mayer). Specifically, she discussed the parallels discussed in the Bible on repentance and abundance. God is good, but he is not safe. The way he gives and takes may seem arbitrary at times—it does not fit neatly into the reward-and-punishment model we prefer and are accustomed to. He also doesn't accept self-sufficiency: everyone is invited into his abundance, but only those in need are allowed in.
Repentance has three dimensions: remorse, which is genuine sorrow for one's action; restitution, a genuine attempt at restoring what was destroyed; And renewal, or a complete change in one's being. To repent is to admit that the relationship matters to you so much that you are willing to amend past wrongs and become a changed person. Repentance requires an act of imagination, as it invites us to imagine a future beyond that of the reaction to the past.
In turbulent times like these, perhaps we should become less self-reliant, and to be more compassionate and kind towards others. [JL]
