What does money have to do with Lent?

The way we think about and spend our money is a testament to our faith.  

Kyle Matthews puts it another way, "The way we go about it matters."  

In the fall, Greg and I had the privilege of attending the Neighborhood Economics Conference in Louisville, KY.  Peter Block, one of the keynote speakers at the conference has this to say about economics in his article, "The Economics of Neighborliness": 

 "We cannot build strong neighborhoods and communities while laboring under the principles of traditional economics. The dominant economic thinking begins with a religious belief in scarcity and self-interest. This rules most modern economies and continues to dominate what we measure and value. We measure our well-being as a nation by the growth of Gross Domestic Product or Gross National Product. We measure our lives and “standard of living” by family income. We have created a “show me the money” culture; if it has no dollar sign on it, it has no value.  Read more...

Another keynote speaker at the conference, Walter Brueggemann, wrote of economics and faith in his book,  Journey to the Common Good:

"Israel has always been departing empire.  That is how it began back in Egypt and that is how Nebuchadnezzar became the dominant metaphor for imperial power vis-a-vis the peculiar destiny of Israel.  That has been the summons of Jesus to his people since his first "follow me."  He summoned away from an old regime into the new regime that he inaugurated.  To make a large, imaginative move, I suggest that it is the task of followers of this gospel in our society- who live in the totalitarian regime of military consumerism with all of its hopes and violences and anxieties-to depart."  Read more

#withinonemile is a Lenten Discipline because it causes me to rethink the way I engage with my neighbors.  It is a Lenten Practice because it is a way of putting to action the things that I believe are true and valuable.  I have proclaimed a commitment of rootedness to my neighborhood and community.  How can I not commit my money to this place as well?  #withinonemile will be a humbling experience.  It will cause me to reflect upon my own selfishness and it will open my eyes to injustices that I typically ignore by seeking what I think I need elsewhere.  Venturing more deeply into my neighborhood will require me to get creative with my resources.  My hope is that by engaging in this practice, I will more fully notice and embody God's abundance in this place.

Place matters.  God came into a specific time and place in the form of a human baby boy.  God pays mind to place.  So should we.

Exactly what are you committing to?

I first started to write, "I live in a neighborhood that is cut off from a lot of the vibrant life of the city."  But, that's not true.  What's true is that I live in a neighborhood that is cut off from the trendy life of the city.  I think, but am not certain, that this has a lot to do with a racial divides and unjust economic investments.  Unfortunately, I am a part of the problem.

I have chosen to invest my time and my work in a place other than my neighborhood.  I serve as co-pastor of a church on the economic, demographic, and physical opposite side of town.  This means that a lot of my time, money, and creative energy is spent in a place other than my own neighborhood.  My congregation is busy and spread out.  They do not often take part in the opportunity of ministerial office hours.  As I've mentioned before, I like to be around people.  Since people don't often come to me, I tend to go to people.  When I can and as often as I can, I like to set up a satellite office in a coffee shop or market.  These hip little people places are not located in my neighborhood.  They are almost always across town.

In short, my job is not within a mile radius of my house.  This may sound silly, but....I am not going to forego my responsibility to my work as a pastor during Lent.  That'd be crazy!

What I am committing to is this:  I will make purchases within a mile of my house.  I will spend more time connecting to people within a mile of this place.  I will become more rooted in my neighborhood.

For others, their pledge may be different.  Maybe they'll pledge to invest their money within a mile of their parish.  Maybe they'll pledge to invest their money within a mile of their work.  Maybe they'll pledge to invest their money within a mile of one of the "abandoned neighborhoods" of their town or city.  The idea is to start with what you spend.  Think about the money you spend and chose to spend it more thoughtfully, more locally, and more intentionally.  Consider the amount of driving you do and the amount of gas you use.  Could your fuel consumption be reduced if you chose to walk to shop rather than to drive?  Could your fuel consumption be reduced if you found the closest location from which to purchase your needed item?  Would the sky fall if you chose not to buy that item at all or you found something already in your possession you could use instead?  

The pledge is not to never exit the 1 mile radius.  The pledge is to try your best to invest your money in one particular area and see what its affect is on your whole self-mind, body, spirit, heart.  You get to choose the particular area.  You get to choose the boundaries.  

And remember....you be the judge.  There are going to be times when you just can't abide by the 1 mile rule.  Go ahead and go to coffee with that friend who is passing through town and wants to meet you at the highway exit.  Don't beat yourself up about crossing the 1 mile barrier.  When you do cross the line, and you will, take notice.  Notice the difference between this place and that.  Notice the difference you feel in the different environment.  Notice the impact your rootedness has on your sense of self, neighbor, and God.

That's what I'm committed to.  Are you with me?

Second guessing

There's almost an entire month before Lent begins and I'm already anticipating.  In the past, I had made a pledge to only buy clothes for myself within walking distance of my house.  What I didn't realize is that I was willing to walk further than the one mile radius I have pledged to for Lent 2015. Less than a half a mile outside of my 1 mile radius stands the delectable Pinky's restaraunt and also the Bi-lo Grocery Store.  I guess in a month's time I'll have to say goodbye to Pinky's for a while.  I hadn't even thought about the fact that I usually work from my choice of several "satellite offices"- hip coffee shops and deli markets.  The closest deli market stands right next to Pinky's.  The closest coffee shop is several miles away.  I guess it'll be home brewed coffee for me.  Man!  I should have made this the "within one and a half miles" challenge.

I like to dabble in the arts.  I am taking a pottery class right now and thanks to The Artist's Way, my inner artist is spreading her wings again.  I'm thrilled to be stretching back into good and healthy creativity.  Uh oh!  The crafting stores are miles and miles away and the pottery supply store isn't in my radius either!  

I've decided, even though it is an entire month away, to keep the 1 mile radius and simply get creative.  I'll admit it:  I've thought about stocking up on all the good stuff before Feb 18.  I'm going to try not too. eek!

My One Mile Radius Map

This is the map of the one mile radius around my home at QC Family Tree.  This video link helped to teach me how to make this map using the www.freemaptools.com

A Lenten Practice of Rootedness and Creativity

You are invited to join me in a Lenten

challenge. journey. practice. adventure

of

Creativity & Rootedness

=   #withinonemile




My name is Helms Jarrell.  I am a part of a Christian intentional community of hospitality and solidarity in Charlotte, NC called QC Family Tree.  QC Family Tree's core identity statement proclaims that we are "kinfolk rooted in discipleship in West Charlotte."  To be rooted is to be grounded, to be stable, to be firmly planted.  It is also to have a sense of place.  The #withinonemile lenten practice is my attempt to strengthen my sense of place.  It is a way for me to be more fully invested (time, money, creativity..) in my neighborhood.  

For several years, I made a pledge that I would only shop for myself (clothes, mostly) within walking distance of my house.  This practice was restorative.  It gave me a sense of purpose and a sense of connection with my surroundings.  I felt like I was living more simply and with more integrity.  Lately, I've noticed a lax in my practice.  I have a different job than I did when I used to shop within walking distance.  The new job takes me out of the neighborhood and it also pays me a higher rate than I once had.  All of a sudden, I blinked and found myself- without really ever thinking about it- at such luxurious places as coffee shops across town, big box stores to run quick errands, grab and go restaurants to get a bite quickly and head off to my next meeting.  My hope is that this Lenten Practice will help me to re-simplify and re-integrate into my neighborhood's economy. 

We, at the QC Family Tree, believe that the people and places surrounding the Enderly Park neighborhood are the good soil in which we desire to be planted.  Because the soil where we are planted bears the wounds of racial oppression, we will always be working against the legacy of racism. My hope is that by sharing my observations throughout the within-one-mile Lenten practice will reveal to others the rich goodness and the hard struggles of the place I call home and the people I call family.

I am a communitarian.  My extrovert tendencies outweigh my introvert ones and I like journeying with others.  I believe that the way we learn to nurture and nourish our relationship with God and neighbor is through the intentional practices of Christian Spiritual Disciplines in community with others.  For that reason, I am asking others to join me in the adventure.  My hope is that our collective experience will tell a beautiful wonderful story of grace and truth.

Choose to join the #withinonemile Lenten Discipline with me. Here's how:


Make the pledge:  "I hereby pledge, From February 18 - April 5 to buy all food, clothing, toiletries, and entertainment within one mile of _________________________."  (Fill in the blank with your chosen location such as:  my home, my work, or my church."

Record your observations:  Through pictures, words, and updates, record your experience.  Post these observations onto social media using the hashtag #withinonemile .

Ponder. Reflect. Think:  Use the weekly reflection guide, provided on this blog and via the facebook group, for extra direction, challenge, and encouragement.

Encourage others:  Take the time to send encouragement to the others who are practicing alongside you.  You can do this by joining the #withinonemile facebook group and posting encouraging words.

What about 1.2 miles?  What about the medications I take?  What about...?

You be the judge.  There may be some exceptions to the rule.  This isn't about how difficult you can make your life.  It is about regaining a sense of place.  When you venture out of your mile radius, write about it.  Record your observations.  Remain reflective and mindful.