Lent: A Time of Refocusing and Renewal

God may we remember

All of life is held together with nails

Piercing flesh of the son of man

May we remember and give thanks

God may we remember

The power of sin and death are forever ended

Hung upon a cross and crucified

May we remember and give thanks

God may we remember

The bread of life broken for us

That we may eat and filled with abundance of life

May we remember and give thanks

God may we remember

God’s blood poured out for us

The deep wounds of love suffered for us

May we remember and give thanks

God may we remember ashes on foreheads

And kneel before the one whose love knows no end

With humbled hearts and repentant spirits

May we remember and give thanks

God may we remember we are but dust

And walk together into tomorrow’s unknowns

Breaking bars, building bridges, setting captives free

May we remember and give thanks

God may we remember and give thanks

Let us take up our cross and follow

Believing that in Christ all things work together for good

May we remember and give thanks

                      A prayer for Ash Wednesday and devotional prayer for Lent~ Christine Sine,

                                 http://godspace.wordpress.com/

Lent is the 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, not counting Sundays, where many members within the Body reflect and meditate on their spiritual journey of faith in Christ. It is a time where priorities are assessed and where we look to God as our supreme reality, shedding ourselves of those things throughout the year that have become distractions and even replacements for the devotion that we are called in the depths of our hearts by the whispers of the Spirit to have towards God.

Let me just say that this is my first year observing Lent, as no church that I've ever attended has practiced it.So, I am no expert, it is a practice that I am just becoming familiar with.  I used to think of Lent and other such practices as shallow gestures others offered to ride out the waves of dogma and doctrine, and certainly that can be true for some. I have to confess that I had a negative view of such practices in the past largely due to conversations I had, and material I had digested, in my more evangelical and conservative circles. I have though in my spiritual journey found the depth and richness that liturgical prayer and ancient rituals can offer.

Some people I have talked have asked me why Lent is necessary, why do we have to "prove" ourselves and our faith so to speak to God. I think that's a misperception in a way. First, Lent isn't found in the bible, so it isn't "necessary" so to speak but I believe it does enrich one's walk. And during Lent we aren't trying to prove anything to God, for God knows the inner workings of our heart. Instead, we are trying to reshift our focus towards God within ourselves. It is a time of deep introspection when, whoever decides to participate, can look at how they are living life, look at their priorities and where God and their spiritual life with Him fall on the list...on the top..or towards the bottom? And it's a time of renewal spiritually and a turning away of what is not profitable spiritually, what is only illusion and attachments based on our egos and false sense of self-a turning away from all those things and a turning towards God. It's also to recognize the sacrifice Jesus made and the suffering and sacrifice that many people everywhere, across the globe are enduring and to recognize that if we are all one body, we share in that suffering and have a responsibility in reducing that suffering.

Many associate the giving up of things during Lent as one's soul act during this time. Perhaps that should be clarified for Lent doesn't necessarily mean that one has to give up something, it could also mean that one adds something...or gives something...there are posts  I've been reading on facebook with great suggestions coming in from christians...like for example eating during the duration of lent food during one's day that equals to the equivalent of 2$..which is on average what many go on in other country's. And to take the difference one would spend on their food budget and give it to charity.  It could be an added amount of time for prayer, or extra scripture reading, extra worship...a sacrifice of one's time during the day where they put devotion towards God first.

As I mentioned I am no expert at Lent. There are many helpful articles currently circulating which highlight the significance of this ancient ritual. One article I found a lot of benefit from reading which helped give me perspective as well as understanding some of the historical significance and context is this one: http://chadholtz.net/2011/03/07/its-lent-not-lint-2/  I encourage any who are interested in finding out more in regards to Lent to check it out! I know I found it personally helpful.

It is my prayer that for all of us who are observing Lent this year, that we will find it a time when we focus completely on God, and awaken to the reality of His presence seated in the throne of our soul's most innermost depths. That we will be humbled and inspired by the unspeakable mercy and love of God and sacrifice and compassion of Jesus. May we take the clarity and the renewed sense of focus that we find towards God and strive to carry that on the rest of the year.

What are your thoughts towards Lent? Do you observe Lent? Why or why not? If you do, in what ways do you choose to observe it? Please feel free to share :)