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I'm In

A few weeks ago, I was using voice-to-text to compose some prayers. After I was finished speaking the whole list, I was proof-reading the document and realized that everywhere I said “Amen”, the voice-to-text wrote “I’m in”.

“Amen” essentially means “may it be so”, but what would it look like to end our prayers with “I’m in”. What would change if we rose from our knees, left our prayer closets, closed our devotionals, and moved with purpose toward the goals for which we had just prayed. 

Lord, in your mercy: 
Grant justice to the oppressed and disenfranchised (I’m in)
Cast down the mighty from their thrones (I’m in) 
Console the grieving and welcome the prodigal (I’m in) 
Welcome strangers and attend to the marginalized (I’m in) 
Grant the space for the silenced to speak… and listen (I’m in) 
Fill the hungry with good things and send the rich away empty (I’m in) 
Forgive others as I am forgiven (I’m in)
Be merciful as God in heaven is merciful (I’m in) 
Gently steward the creation God so loves (I’m in) 
Do not neglect to meet together with other faithful folks (I’m in) 
Clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, bring healing to the sick, accompany the lonely (I’m in)  

The readings for Ash Wednesday are meant to return us to a place of prayer in word and deed. We ask God to grant us clean hearts, for the purposes of restoring us to right relationship with our Creator, the people around us, and the whole world. Right relationship is a place of action, not a state of mind. The action of service changes us. The action of prayer changes us. The work of listening, accompanying, being curious changes us. It is not the motions themselves; it is the presence of the Holy Spirit in those movements that cause holy shifts within us. This is not the same thing as salvation, so I am in no way implying works-righteousness. 

I’m talking about God’s work of sanctification- making us holy, shaping us to be the people we’ve been made, equipped, and called to be. The Lenten season is the time to return to that and to ask ourselves, “Can I say, ‘I’m in”?” 

Do I want to be more like Christ in my heart, in my words, in my actions? 

The reality of resurrection is already true. We’re not waiting to re-enact Easter, but the observation of Lent allows us to prepare to be embraced by that holy joy once again. If, with the Spirit’s help, we’re not able to say “I’m in” to the discipline and devotion of Lent, we will truly be open to the “I’m in” of Easter? 

Good news delivered by women? 
The harrowing of hell? 
Appearances to doubters and deniers? 
Inclusive invitations to community? 
The call to be changed by mystery? 

The ”I’m in” to Lent, to discipline and devotion, is preparation for responding in kind to everything else God is doing and will do. 

We will not do this work alone. God goes with us all the way. 

So, what do you say? 

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