Listening to Lent

From now until Easter, the Orangeville and District Ministerial will hold Lenten Services and Luncheons at Tweedmuir Presbyterian Church. Each Wednesday, a different faith community will prepare the service and invite members of the community to come and share moments of reflection and worship.

The theme that has been chosen is "Listening to Lent".

It is a theme that seemed to resonate with us as we discussed our plans for this year's series. It is a theme that certainly spoke to my heart.

Now I was raised in a faith tradition that did not observe the formal church calendar. Lent was a word I knew but I understood little. My friends in school seemed to focus on the things they were giving up and so I saw it primarily as a time of self denial.

Over the years, I developed an appreciation for Lent. I came to understand it as a period of preparation, as the Christian looks towards Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I came to realize that the worshipper sacrificed something during Lent, not for the sake of church tradition, but in order to focus on the essentials of their faith, to deepen their prayer life and to help them meditate on the sacrifice of Christ. And so, I came to appreciate the place of Lent in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ, even though I did not enter into it in the same way.

However, a few years ago, two people told me that, rather than denying themselves something during Lent, they chose to add a spiritual practice to their journey. They focused on enriching their Christian experience by bringing something new into their daily walk.

Now THIS was something that spoke to my condition. I loved this concept and so, last year, for the first time, I added a spiritual practice to my walk during Lent. I began a "faith scrap- book". Using my love of scrapbooking, I started a book in which each page creatively illustrated a word from my walk with God. Last year I was able to complete the basic pages of this vocabulary of faith and this year I plan to work through each page, adding quotes and artwork which reflect my heart.

In so doing, I hope to listen to Lent. I hope to listen to what this period of reflection is saying to me. I hope to listen to the Spirit of God. I hope to listen to the Word of God.

In Matthew 6:21 we read these words.

"The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." (The Message)

Lent is becoming a time for me to think about the things I treasure in my walk with God. What are the things that I store in my mind and regard as precious? What are the things I cherish? My "faithbook" is a personal tool I use but we can all find ways to focus on God's riches and treasures.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44 (NIV)

In this brief illustration, Jesus tells us that when we fully understand the treasure of God, sacrifice become much easier. When we listen to Lent, we understand the full treasure of what God has done for us in Christ. And self denial becomes easier.

However you observe Lent this year, my prayer is that you will listen with all your heart to what it is saying to you. Use Lent to prepare your hearts for the enormity of the Good Friday and Easter realties. Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again. God is good.