Foolish Followers
Fools say in their hearts, there’s no God. They are corrupt and do horrible deeds; not one of them does anything good. – Psalm 53:1 (CEB)
The psalmist’s words are unsettling. We might find it easier to distance ourselves from the fool described here, imagining some other person who openly denies God. But could this be a mirror held up to us? What about the times when our hearts and actions speak louder than our words of faith?
Especially after surviving some of the most outlandish years of our lives stacked back-to-back-to-back, it is a subtle yet real temptation to live as though God is absent. This might show up as apathy in the face of injustice, as greed that prioritizes our desires over others’ needs, or as despair that forgets God’s promises. The psalmist doesn’t simply describe a theoretical fool; they challenge us to examine the ways we neglect to live as though God’s presence is real and transformative.
Lent offers us the gift of such self-examination. It’s a season to acknowledge where foolishness has crept into our lives and to choose differently. This is not about shame but about re-centering our lives on God’s truth. Acknowledging God—fully and deeply—leads to a life marked by wisdom, compassion, and faith.
As we make our way through this Lenten season that punctuates these bizarre times, may we turn away from the folly of self-reliance and seek the wisdom of trusting God in all things.
Prayer
God of wisdom, forgive the ways we choose to live as though you are not present. Draw us deeper into your truth. Teach us to purposefully move in your extravagant vision and abundant goodness for each of us. Amen.
About the AuthorPhiwa Langeni creatively invites others into transformational liminal spaces between what has been and what is yet to be. They currently serve as the Associate Conference Minister for Equipping Leaders in the Southern California Nevada Conference UCC.