We're At It Again...

After nearly two years of silence - since Easter Sunday of 2013 - it is time for revival. Gary and I are resurrecting (pun intended) this blog as we journey through the season of Lent. We will be reading the daily lectionary passages over the coming months and regularly reflecting on all that God is teaching us through this time of exploration. So check in with this blog often as we meander toward Easter - and hopefully you will be encouraged, informed, and inspired along the way.

I thought I would begin by posting the church newsletter article I just wrote, since I reflect on Lent, why it is important to me, and what I am hopeful for during this season. Enjoy!

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The Lenten Journey

I didn’t grow up following the church calendar or observing church seasons such as Advent and Lent. That was a ‘Catholic’ thing to do. I grew up thinking that these practices were just mindless, superficial traditions that had no significance and were simply faithless religion. But over the years, as I have spent time in the Methodist, Episcopal, and Disciples of Christ denominations, I have come to really love and appreciate these spiritual rhythms. I find such depth, meaning, and significance in journeying through these liturgical seasons.

Thus, I am incredibly excited about the beginning of Lent. Far from being mindless, superficial religion, I find the Lenten season to be a time of even greater spiritual engagement. Lent is a time of examination. Of exploration. Of self-reflection. It is a time to think deeply about our humanity and God’s divinity; our sin and God’s grace. Lent is a time of repentance – which always requires a great deal of humility and self-examination. It is the willingness to name our brokenness and seek healing and wholeness that can only come through God’s sacrificial act of love.

So, during the coming month of Lent, I hope we will all have the courage to dive into the meaning and potential of this beautiful, sacred season. Lent is traditionally a time of both giving up old things and taking up new things. Maybe there is some destructive tendency that keeps weighing you down and this is finally the time to put that in the past. Maybe there are distractions in your life that are keeping you from really entering into God’s presence and Lent can be the time to give those things up – at least for a season. Or maybe there are practices or rhythms or behaviors that you have been wishing were part of your daily or weekly regimen – well, now’s the time. I sincerely pray that this Lenten season will be one of incredible significance for us all – a time where we draw close to God, hear the beckoning voice of Jesus, and allow the Spirit to guide and direct us into deeper love and service of both God and the world.