Lenten Reflection

Conversation between God and I before Lent began: 

God: Have you chosen what will you sacrifice this Lent?

ME: I don't know yet, I can't decide.

God: I will for you. Let's see, well, you will have to give up going out to eat.

Me: That's OK I really don't have the money to anyway.

God: ...And I'll need you to give up social media too

Me: Uhh, I'm not really cool with that...

God: No listening to or watching the nightly news and feeding on the negativity,  it's hurting you, and it hurts me to see your anguish over things that you think are out of control.

Me: wait, what?!

God: It's stealing precious time away from those you love, and I miss you.

Me: ...I have no words...

It seems this time the season of Lent has really defined what God is calling a real "return" to Him.   Each Lent has been different. During this time, many strive to give up  (fast) from something and to repent or turn away from destructive behaviors. Over the last couple of years, our country seems to be turning away from God and accepting and even embracing the evil that's plaguing us. Hypersexualization, perversion,crime, the political talking heads doing everything to divide us as a people. It seems like everything good and decent is being stripped away from us. We are being forced to sacrifice our beliefs and the truth itself!

During the pandemic, we sacrificed so much because of COVID. The first year of the pandemic began just before Palm Sunday, we would not gather to worship at Easter, we could no longer eat out with family and friends, we could not gather. Many who were in hospitals and extended care facilities would die alone without loved ones near by. Jobs, lost, schools closed, everything was rooted in what we could no longer do. Back then like now it seems like we were are being separated from God!

Maybe you chose not to fast then as part of your returning to the Lord; but you really did, not just for 40 days, but a whole year! As we were forced to stay home, shut in and shut down for COVID.  During that whole time God had our almost undivided attention.  The time in a sort of isolated way has not been for nothing! We cherish family more, help those who are in trouble, adapt and strive to over-come. We respond to God’s amazing grace and we are changed as a result of  the struggle and sacrifice. 

Where are you now in your journey? Do you fear that you lost the gains from the trials and struggles? Are you closer or farther? If you were to look in the mirror, what would you see, or rather, who would you see? One thing is for sure, you are different than you were at he beginning of this journey!

This day ask God to reveal to you what strides have been made during this slow transformation process and embrace the vision of where you are being called to. 

Read: Psalm 19; Psalm 40:1-7; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Corinthians 13:4-13