Dear Everyone,

Thank you for joining me on this year’s Lenten Readalong. I’m enjoying the reading and am grateful for your comments and reflections. 

I approach Lent as an opportunity to develop spiritual discipline – to spend time daily in prayer, in the reading of Scripture, and in silent reflection. I think of Lent as a pilgrimage, where I endeavour to learn something new and important. It’s with this spirit that I approach our Lenten reading of “Three Simple Rules.”

This week, we will read the chapter, “Do No Harm.”  Many of you will recognize this principle as part of the practice of medicine, but the principle is also followed by many people in their interactions with other human beings, with animals, and with the environment. 

We may be tempted to think of “Do No Harm” as a rule other people should follow and quickly point fingers when they fail to do so. But as this week’s reading reminds us, the rule must be applied to ourselves first. How can we expect others to follow this rule, when we don’t?

Bishop Job also provides us with a very important reminder concerning this principle, “I must do no harm, even while I seek a common good.” Here, the Bishop challenges our tendency as human beings to do harm in the service of good.  But the principle remains, despite our excuses.  I must do no harm, even when trying to achieve a good common for me and my neighbours. I will be pondering this point in the coming days …

I welcome your reflections below. Thank you for joining me.

Peace be with you all,

SR.

www.sylvainreynard.com

Dear Everyone,

Peace be with you this wintry Sunday.

I am inviting all of you to join me in this year’s Lenten Readalong, which will begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5th, and continue until Easter.

This year, we will be reading “Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living,” by Rueben Job. I have long admired the wisdom of John Wesley and desired to learn more about the Wesleyan tradition. I’m grateful to my friend Pastor Ginny, a United Methodist minister, for recommending Bishop Job’s book, which offers reflections on John Wesley’s wisdom.

I want to be sure to emphasize that this readalong is open to everyone and I welcome your participation. For me, Lent represents an annual journey and I am so grateful that for the past few years, I’ve been able to journey with so many readers around the world. It has been a tremendous blessing to me.

We will begin March 5th by reading the Preface and the Introduction. The book is available as an ebook and also as a paperback. Join me.

Thank you for reading,

SR

www.sylvainreynard.com

Dear Everyone,

It’s Palm Sunday. I want to wish everyone a very blessed Holy Week. Thank you again for joining me on this Lenten journey. This past week, we completed Chapter 5 and so this week, we will be reading Chapter 6, which is in “The Pilgrim Continues his Way.”

I’m continuing to reflect on the importance of simplicity and perseverance – simplifying life and prayer and persevering in both. I’m also reflecting on the importance of being open to change when our plans don’t work out, and how important it is to be open to the people who come into our life. There’s been lots to ponder over this Lenten journey, and I’m hoping to continue those reflections and apply what I’ve learned at Easter and beyond.

I welcome your comments and reflections. On Easter Sunday, I’ll be reading the final chapter of “The Pilgrim Continues his Way,” and I ask you to join me in that, as well.

Thank you for coming into my life. Peace be with you all.

SR

www.sylvainreynard.com