Giving Up For Lent: INACTION

            This week, I've been reflecting on inaction as something we can all give up for Lent.

            Admittedly, this came about as I have been progressing with my own journey of not procrastinating. Procrastination is the 'I'll get around to it" delay; with best of intentions it's a decision to put off something in lieu of something more fun or fulfilling. I could clean the bathroom, which needs doing, but instead I'll finish reading this novel, which is much more exciting.

            Inaction, however, has a different nuance. It is intentionally avoiding something without regard for the impact. It is making a choice to accept what is, rather than take action to make a change. That can be a powerful statement, especially when other people are involved.

            For example, not correcting someone who gets a name wrong is letting them know that the incorrect name is acceptable; not only is this perpetuating an inaccuracy, it can be hurtful to those associated with the name. To go to an extreme, a person in leadership who acknowledges an injustice and declares a need to take action, yet who does nothing, has communicated to the injured party that maintaining the injustice is more comfortable than righting a wrong; it also communicates to the offending party that the unjust action is now being tolerated (and presumably will continue to be). It's a slippery slope that can cause harm to individuals, communities, and institutions.

            I believe as Christians we are all called to action: we are called to love, which can be a difficult task at times. Choosing to love can be risky: it means standing up for the vulnerable among us, it means speaking the truth even when we are afraid. It means identifying our own fears and comfort levels with situations we might prefer to ignore.

            Ignoring, however, is intentional inaction. It is siding with the status quo, even when we disagree. The choice to do nothing is a choice: and not always the most Christian choice. May we choose to love as Christ loved us; may we be bold enough to love with action as we are called; may we support one another in this boldness.

"Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing." ~Laurie Buchanan