Pastor’s Corner
As February draws to a close, we look forward to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent.
Lent is one of my favorite church seasons. Lent calls Christians to step back from the demands and fast pace to which society calls us. We are instead called to take the time to reflect upon our lives and reorient ourselves toward God.
I can get wrapped up in the speed of the secular world. There is always something happening, something that needs to be done, something that demands my undivided attention. The odd thing is that at the end of the day I can’t recall what was so important about most of those things I did that day. Shouldn’t I give my time, my energies, and my love (my gifts) to that which is truly important? Daily I ask if I am using my gifts in ways that God would find pleasing. Some days I do better than others. This is why Lent is important to me.
I appreciate the focused time, which I set-aside during Lent to study the scriptures more deeply than usual. I seek out time and space during the day to read the Bible. My reading is more than simple reading. I seek to read not for information or sermon preparation rather I read to come closer to God. From time-to-time during this reading I stop and reread a verse or a few words that catch my attention. I stay with these words for a time asking what they are saying to me, asking God why have these words caught my attention. I can’t force this style of reading to fit into a predetermined time frame because God may have a word for me, which doesn’t come in the time I set aside for reading. I let myself journey toward God-time.
Lent, a time for preparation, examination, and prayer. I like to use this season as a time to give myself to God by entering into God-time.
Peace and grace,
