Lent and Listening
Poet Ann Weems wrote the following poem that is included in her book, “Kneeling in Jerusalem.”
A Listening
“Going through Lent is a listening
When we listen to the Word, we hear
where we are so blatantly unliving.
If we listen to the Word
and hallow it into our lives,
we hear how we can so abundantly live again.”
Listen? Sit and listen? Be still? For some of us, that is very hard to do.
I am a mover and a shaker. I want to move fast, get things done! I ask, “You expect me to sit and ‘do nothing,’ except to be still and listen?”
“Yes,” says the Lord. “That is precisely what I am calling you to do. How else will you be able to learn of Me and hear My words?”
I was very fortunate to have in my life a kind and gentle and loving mentor. She could sit and listen to the Lord for hours. She taught me to do the same; maybe not as long as she could, but long enough for me to grow in the faith. Lent is a time to listen, perhaps the best time to begin listening. Take the time to sit down, or kneel down and simply listen.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:1-10
