It is the fourth weekend of Lent. Easter morning is only three weeks away.
We notice we are leaning forward. We want to put Lent behind us and celebrate. We begin to long for familiar symbols of new life and Spring. We want to feel comfortable again.
It tells us a great deal about ourselves and our culture that Easter draws so much of our attention while Lent draws so little of it.
Part of it is that Easter is more capitalistically harmonious than Lent. Lent is about letting go and setting aside what we do not need. We are encouraged to buy candy and new clothes for Easter. A few people still send Easter cards.
Easter has also been domesticated in ways that Lent has not. Easter reminds us of bunnies, eggs, and candy. Easter is a celebration, and celebrating makes us feel good. Lent is more about challenging lessons and growing.
Lent helps us become deeper and better: Easter helps us feel better.
For many people, Easter has become a vague, general time to appreciate new life. Ironically, Easter does not carry much sense of sacred truth or spiritual depth.
Lent is about touching the Sacred.
Lent gives us an opportunity to release our grip on the supports we gather and to which we cling so tightly, insecure and intimidated by the spiritual depth all around us.
Lent is our time to close our eyes, listen to the Silence, and recognize the deep truths it has to tell us.
We take a deep breath, then another. We realize there is nothing in the depth all around us to make us frightened or intimidated.
The Sacred in the Depth draws us deeper.
How will you touch the Sacred today?
What truths do you hear in the Silence?
[Image by 1banaan]
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