Lent!

It’s Lent! Hurray! It has finally arrived! Although, with all of this snow outside, it doesn’t quite look like Lent. The word "Lent" is derived from Old English lencten, meaning 'spring', the lengthening of days after winter is over. So as Christians our observance of Lent then is an observance of a season And like any season we meet it where we are, in our own lives. This is important to remember, because as the somewhat clichéd statement goes, “we are all on a journey.”

So this time of ‘spring’ in our life will be different than it was last year. We have progressed in journey and so this must be taken into account. So what do we do with Lent then? I would venture to suggest that we do more than just give up chocolate or other sweets. I think that we need to take a lesson or two from Agriculture. Yes, you read that correctly, farming has something to teach us about Lent. Lent is a time for spiritual renewal, a time when we take care to tend the soil of our souls just a farmers tend the soil of their fields, in preparation for the harvest. But what does this look like?

Well in the spring time, if my memory serves me, famers do some tilling, fertilizing and some sowing. Perhaps we can do these very things this lent as well. Let’s start will tilling. We all have things in our life that keep us from growing in our faith and growing closer with those around us. It is in naming these habits that we begin to till them up and make room for something new to be planted. Perhaps this Lent we can take time to see what is keeping us from communion with God, our family, friends and even strangers. Once identified, we can make a renewed effort to change these habits. Making a private confession, or spending sometime with a spiritual director or guide will help can help with this.

Fertilizing comes next, which is the adding nutrients to the soil so that the crops can grow. Our soul needs nutrients as well. We can feed our faith, with prayer, worship, service to others, giving to those in need, sharing, practicing gratitude and a host of other ways. These all provide a place where the seeds of faith can grow and we can grow closer to God and our community around us.

Lastly, this Lent we can sow some good seed in our souls. The seed, which I suggest, is the seed of Scripture. Take time this Lent to spend a bit more time encountering God in the stories of the Bible. The stories of the Bible are a great help in growing in faith. We can start by finding our own story in the stories of Scripture. Where do we relate with the individuals whose lives we read about? What must they be feeling and when have we felt this way? Connecting with these stories of faith will help us on our own journey of renewal.

I am so glad that Lent is here! It is about repentance and fasting, but much more about celebrating the new life that we find through faith!