I read somewhere recently (I can never remember where I read stuff) that Lent is not about us - but about God. It is not about how much we can give up - or take on - but what God is doing in each of us. And I think I like that idea - it sorta of takes the pressure off - it means we ( I ) don’t have to prove anything - I don’t have to work at getting God’s favor - I can just be… and yet that is probably harder than giving up or taking on.

This retirement thing??? Today is the first day that I don’t have anything planned to do - nothing noted on my  calendar. I could have stayed in bed all day - or at the least stayed in pj‘s all day - the dogs don’t care… I could even have skipped the shower - again - but no I didn’t do any of that. I tell myself that I am ‘in discernment’ waiting to hear from God what I’m to do next… so far just mumblings….. nothing very clear…………

So - God - what are you doing in me today? Maybe it’s this:

"Lent is a liberating reminder that I'm not stuck. Because God speaks in new voices and in unexpected ways, change can come. Renewal is possible. And in the ultimate Christian mystery that awaits us a few Sundays from now, even physical death leads to resurrection life. "(From Journey with Jesus, for Sunday March 4, 2012)

So rather than struggling to find my voice - maybe I just need to open the ears of my heart…

Maybe that is what Lent is all about anyway - opening up to the mystery, splendor and majesty of our God…
(cartoon courtesy of Google)

 Day 3 of Lent

I woke up this morning to a blanket of snow all over this part of God’s creation - last night’s weather person said it was coming but I didn’t believe her…. My bad -  and then my rambling brain got into high gear.

Everything looked so fresh and new… clean…like only 5"-6" of heavy wet snow can do. The limbs of the trees bowing their boughs in Awe? Maybe.

And I got to thinking about new things…………. The meditations and commentaries that I have been reading these last dew days all seem to be focused on Lent as a time of something new. We are a new creation, we spend time during this season to reflect, pray, think about where God is in this mess of a world and where God is in the mess of our lives as well. I, too, am in a new place - a transition place - that place between knowing what my work day looks like and not knowing what I am doing each day. That’s what ‘retirement’ does I think - forces you (me) to really explore what it is that God intends… at least at the beginning. This new time is a time of reflection - straining to hear that small still voice - listening to the voice of God in the comfort and support of friends.

When our niece was about 3 or 4, maybe 5, we got to spend the day with her without Mom - and so we went to the ice cream shop. We each ordered a cone and then asked her what she wanted - “…coffee ice cream - 2 scoops please!” Her uncle asked her if she had ever had coffee ice cream before and she said - ‘No Uncle Glenn, this is a new experience…’ and indeed it was. If memory serves, I don’t think she finished it, but that is not the point. She wanted a new experience - and she got it!

Yes indeed, this is a new experience, this being called and loved as a child of God - do we ever get used to it? I don’t think so. Do we ever really want  a new experience - just for the joy of it? Do we ever get past the newness of it? (Whatever 'it' is?)  Do we ever get past the wonder of it? Do we ever really understand it? I’m not so sure………. But at least we have the opportunity every day for something new.

So what is it about ‘new’ that gets our panties in a bunch?

Fear of the unknown - i.e. the devil we know is better that the one we don’t? Uncertainty about what ‘new’ might bring?   Fear of being called into something we don't think we want or can do?  Fear of how the 'new' might change us?

It wasn’t long before the world of white outside my windows began to change……… the day broke ........ actually night broke wide open and a new day emerged and took it’s place…….. The wilderness of night was gone and a new day had begun.

The Son rose in the sky - a new thing had happened - and the heavy laden trees began to raise their arms in praise.
 
(the photo courtesy of the World Wide Web)