The Journey that is Lent
which we enter into via pancakes!
As we prepare for the start of Lent tomorrow, pancakes are a tradition - they are a way of using up leftover bits of things to make something tasty and perhaps a little indulgent before a period of self-examination and preparation for the death of the old self with Christ, and the resurrection of the new self with Christ.
We journey with Jesus to the cross during these coming days, and we take the time to reflect on our lives individually and collectively ... maybe we think of the state of relationships and friendships, maybe we consider that which is broken that could stand some repairing ... journeying with Christ as disciples, we know that to live the life of reconciliation and repairing broken relationships is to live a life that inherently involves placing indulgent self-interest, pridefulness and self-glorification aside.
We know that repairing broken relationships - with self, other, Creator and creation involve embracing a new humility, pouring out self-centred-ness and replacing it with servitude. We get that repair is possible and available.
We know that reconciliation - with self, other, Creator and creation involve delaying judgment, examining the lumber in our own eyes, a willingness to focus on compassion, love, mercy and grace above wealth and shiny things - the things that make moth buffets and rust relics. The things that by their very nature must be left behind. Why focus on such transient golden calves?
We understand that unity exists, and our participation in this unity is a matter of laying down our arguments, laying down our desires for revenge and payback, opening arms in embrace rather than closing fists in preparation for fights.
We understand that leaving vengeance and payback to the divine leaves our mortal souls free to engage in productive and creative earthly adventures with hearts, minds and souls available to receive the brush strokes of the new against the canvas of all we are and have been to this day. Grace enables this newness of life, makes new visions possible on the canvas we come with.
We get this: acknowledgment and the acceptance of responsibility for our own wrong-doing gives us a compass, aligns us so we can truly turn back towards better and more life-giving ways of being. If we do not accept what and how we have done wrong, how can we find our way home? Home awaits us with such great longing.
During these days, as we continue to remain tuned in to the things happening around the world, things we may not be able to impact directly - we can live the love of Jesus with our immediate neighbours and friends ... we can feed the hungry, be compassionate and loving with those whom we'd rather be annoyed with, and extend ourselves beyond the reach of our own comfort zones. We can experience the emptiness of surrender and be refilled with the sacred. We can be mustard seeds of faith and love, initiating shelters of all kinds for spectra of needs - we can be this. This is the power of the cross.
For this Lenten season, for the things we get to know, understand and acknowledge anew, individually and collectively over the next 40 days - I give thanks.
Amen.
If you would like to join us for Lent 2023 devotions and/or study, we would be delighted to have you join us.
Morning devotions on ZOOM at 7.30 am from February 23rd going through Maundy Thursday April 6th.  We will have a brief reading, reflection and question to discuss / think about, followed by a short prayer. Estimate 20-25 minutes each morning, Mondays through Saturdays.
Thursday afternoons at 2pm in March, in person in Tobermory or on ZOOM.
https://zoom.us/j/91706084890?pwd=bWZVUmxld2dvSVdBOGlPNHlrWjlhdz09
Meeting ID: 917 0608 4890
Passcode: 430142