Photo by Ashlyn Ciara on Unsplash

By Steve Matthews
Senior Missional Consultant

In Christian liturgical traditions this is the first week of “Ordinary Time.” Ordinary Time is not meant to denote “normal” or “status quo,” rather it is a period of numbered/ordered weeks between feasts and/or times of penance. It is a time when Christians open themselves up to God’s transforming love and consider their faithful responses. So, if we are observers of Ordinary Time, we recognize that we are now past Christmas and Epiphany and are walking in the company of Christ toward increased faithfulness. Since we are in the first week of Ordinary Time we might ask ourselves, “what now?” and “what’s next?”

In our New Year’s post, we offered this from Howard Thurman’s “The Work of Christmas.”

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.

Thurman’s words might be an invitation to embark on a renewed journey through Ordinary Time. What does it mean to be more faithful at this point in the world? What is ours to do? What path is God calling me to walk, right here… right now?

With all the chaos and injustice in our country and in the world, the choices can feel daunting. Some might set New Year’s resolutions to help them clarify and focus, but I have never been very good at setting resolutions (nor am I any good at keeping them). I prefer to think about “intentions” instead. For me, thoughtful intentions help me align my values and gifts in ways that create a much better chance of moving the needle in my own life and in ways I engage the world. I ask myself two questions:

1. What am I feeling called to do? This might be an act of prayer; it might be an encouraging note I need to write. Perhaps I am feeling an increased need to advocate for someone who needs an outside voice, or maybe I am simply needing to call out injustice when I see it.
2. How am I called to be? How am I to show up in the world? This is less to do with any particular action and more with the spirit with which I carry myself. Some examples might be:

• Remember to stay curious, not judgmental.
• Be willing to speak the truth, even if my voice shakes.
• Offer the prayer “Help me act out of love, not fear.”
• What would you add to this list?

Gillian Florence Sanger offers these suggestions for intention setting:

• Take some uninterrupted time to reflect: Find a quiet space and ground yourself with breathwork or a short meditation. Consider the various aspects of your life: Where do you feel imbalances? Are there certain qualities that are missing?
• Connect with your values: What are your core values? Your intention should resonate with your deeply held beliefs.
• Be specific yet open-ended: Craft your intention with clarity, focusing on how you want to feel or the qualities you wish to embody based on your reflections. There’s no need to be too specific about the end goal or results.
• Keep it positive: Frame your intention in positive language. Focus on what you want to bring into your life, not what you’re trying to avoid or eliminate.
• Write it down: There’s power in putting pen to paper. Writing down your intention makes it more tangible and serves as a reminder of your commitment.
• Incorporate it into your daily routine: Find moments throughout your day to remind yourself of your intention. This could be through meditation, journaling, affirmations, or simply pausing to reflect.
• Release attachment to the outcome: Trust the process and be open to the journey. The power of intention setting lies in aligning with your values and taking mindful action, not in achieving a specific result.

Our world needs spiritually grounded people who are willing to engage, so perhaps you will find this framework helpful. The same principles are valuable for faith communities too. What are you called to do? How are you called to be? FaithX is uniquely suited to help you understand the changing nature of your neighborhoods and communities, and we offer consultation around the discernment of values and mission. Please reach out to us at info@faithx.net if there are ways we might accompany your faith community.