As Lenten disciplines go, this one is pretty simple. I want to invite you to talk with someone in the days and weeks ahead. It’s a process called conversation; it’s a chance to get to know someone, to learn something about them, and maybe even learn something from them, though education is purely a biproduct and not a goal of this particular Lenten practice.

Maybe you’ve heard about our “40 in 40” program already (no relation to ESPN’s “30 for 30”—totally different preposition). It’s all about talking with another Glenn person for 40 minutes over the course of this Lenten season, and it’s purely voluntary. No one is going to cold call you at dinnertime and ask to talk about car warranties, cellphone plans, insurance, or who you should vote for (no one from Glenn, at least). There’s no pressure here.

If you sign up for “40 in 40,” you’ll be matched with another person who also signed up. All we ask is that the two of you spend 40 minutes talking and listening sometime during Lent. We’ll even give you some sample questions you can ask. Actually, I suggest at least two conversations—one in which you ask some questions of your talk partner and listen to their answers, giving them your full attention, and another in which they listen to you. And one more thing, I hope we will also ask how we can pray for each other between conversations.

It's been a hard couple of years, with all of us feeling isolated in many ways and overwhelmed in others. I think we could all use a little time listening and talking with no arguing, persuading, interrogating, or selling involved. I’m not saying it will rid us of all our anxieties or completely erase pressures from our lives, but maybe for a little while together we can just be, well, together.

Oh, and if you decide, “Wow, this conversing stuff is great,” there’s no rule against signing up for another 40 minutes and talking with another person. There’s plenty of time, after all. Lent has 40 days, and that’s not even counting Sundays.

If you’re interested in signing up, you’ll find a form here.

In Christ,

Mark