The Second Weekend of Lent

I belong to a liturgical church, which divides the year into liturgical seasons. Our season of Lent began ten days ago.

Lent was still fresh last weekend. Just a few days after Ash Wednesday, Lent still had our attention. The week since then has been filled with distractions.

In just seven days we have sprung forward to lose an hour and celebrated Pi Day. Today we beware the Ides of March. We anticipate the imminence of Saint Patrick’s Day and March Madness. Those are just the special events.

The week has also been filled with all of the things that usually distract us. We have worked and spent time with each other. We have run races and taken tests. People have interrupted us when we were talking and when we were thinking. We have been pulled in so many different directions away from remembering Lent and reflecting on our intention to let go.

Lent is taking time to remember. Each day and each week we set aside opportunities to recall our shared story. We reflect on where we have been, and where we hope to go. We relive the time we have spent together, when we have laughed and when we have cried.

We give ourselves time to allow the lessons we have already learned to grow into wisdom our hearts.

Lent is setting aside the things that hold us in the past. Our memories are distilled into knowing ourselves more intimately. The pictures we have painted become such a part of our true lives that we no longer need to frame them.

Lent is when we can begin to see what has distracted us as part of the painting.

When will you remember your Lent today?

How will you prepare for the distractions of the upcoming week?

[Image by Jack Hargreaves]