Seeking and Surprise
Today is the last day before Lent begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday. As we embark on our inward journeys with Jesus toward Jerusalem, I invite you to share your intentions and experiences with our community. I look forward to this time to focus our minds, hearts, and actions. Lee Ann Kelly gets us started with her reflection below. May it bless and inspire you as we walk, talk, and work together.-Renée
I have always liked Lent because it reminds me to “make time for G-d” and not my to-do list. Yet with all my good intentions to read more or write more, I seldom have made it through all of Lent.
For Lent 2020, I worked on sitting in “Holy Silence;” 3 minutes at first, weekdays only. Most of the time felt like a struggle with the invading thoughts. By the end, I had worked up to 9 minutes (still struggling) and maybe 3 days that week. 2021: attempt #2. I get to 10 minutes, struggle a bit less, and maintain it through June, 4 days most weeks. 2022: I start in January 2022, I make it through the year, journaling most of it. That’s how I know when we traveled or had guests–no entries.
Why did I keep at it? Even in 2020, I felt seconds of connection, peace, awe that I usually attributed to when I was in community worshiping. And each year, those tastes of “G-d with me” grew.
Early January 2023: While reading, this sentence jumped out to me, “We asked God to show us what things are blocking the Wells of Revival.” I immediately knew this is what I needed to do for me and NCF. Then I read a blog about the Wise Men being “professional seekers who had already been searching the stars for years so when they saw their “Lodestar” they knew it was a call to action. Other experiences (songs, scripture) continued to jump out. Yet it was only when I was reviewing my 2022 journal (Thx Jim), that I realized this was the fruit of me making time to Listen, to enjoy my Abba/Ema.
Throughout scripture we hear “Come to Me,” Lean on Me, “Find rest in Me.” The 40 days of Lent mirror the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert developing his relationship with his Abba/Ema. This is what our Creatively, Consistent G-d has always wanted, us living in connection with G-d, and in community so that “as a community” our light can draw others to the Light.
I started this reflection over a month ago. Yet what I find surprising now is that after at least 10 hours of writing/revising, I am more excited about what G-d wants to do in our lives than I was when I started. Give Lent a chance. Don’t let discouragement deter you. This Lent could be a great adventure for all of us.
Peace,
Lee Ann Kelly