No matter how early Ash Wednesday comes every year we always have the assurance spring is waiting around the cold corner to unveil the earth with new life.
It’s Ash Wednesday – almost. And it brings hope and a 40-day journey that has purpose and destination.
Resurrection.
Lent, an Old English word meaning spring, begins in the dust of ashes, journeys through darkness, and ends up in beauty and triumph. But how do we get from desert to destination while pressing through the temptations in the wilderness of the world?
Maybe by recalculating and getting off the route that takes us away from where we’re going. Somehow we must make a stop in the stillness.
Today we’re pulled in so many stressful directions it can be a fresh breath to come away and examine self and soul in the holy stillness . . . to remember hope and grace.
Our Lord journeyed in the wilderness for forty-fasting days and faced betrayal, beatings and brokenness on the cross . . . and we give up the lure of Godiva and nices and vices for a few weeks. Sounds crazy, I know.
And then there’s the social thing, somehow it seems so Lent-ish to go “twitterless,” don’t you think? We are always busy do-ing and never busy be-ing. . .
So imagine fasting forty days in the desert. Imagine fasting forty days. I want to imagine the sacrifice before the sacrifice.
To be still and really know . . .
In the dark and lonely place of testing and encounter, the Son of God became like us so we could become like Him and have complete dependence on the Father to accomplish the destination.
Lent is not about a season that comes and goes – it’s about the journey of deeply drawing near to Him who is faithful to take us through . . . and take us to. . . .
In the weeks ahead may we give up forty days of yes and make a choice to shut out the usual and take hallowed time to reconnect, refresh, and renew our weary selves in the “it is written.” And just like with the assurance of spring, there will be unveiling to bring new life on our journey.
Then Jesus was led up by the Sprit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after forty days and forty nights He was hungry. And the tempter came an said to Him, “If You are the Son of God command these stones to become loaves of bread. But He answered, “It is written” . . . Matthew 4:4
Verna
Jeanne Doyon says
February 6, 2016 at 12:20 pmI am tracking with your heart, Verna. Would social media and my blog miss me for 40 Days??
It is worth thinking about it.
Verna Bowman says
February 6, 2016 at 3:16 pmWe track each other’s heart 🙂 I think we could all use a “technology cleanse” but I definitely would miss your blog for 40 days if you decided to do one! Miss you, Jeanne!
Jeanne Doyon says
February 6, 2016 at 3:19 pmThanks, Verna. I miss you too!!
Gloria says
February 6, 2016 at 12:27 pmWe just don’t “be still” do we? I like this very much.
Verna Bowman says
February 6, 2016 at 3:18 pmI know I don’t – I PURPOSE to but for some reason the DO keeps getting in the way 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, Gloria – I hope to see you soon!
Lynda Stear says
February 6, 2016 at 2:59 pmVerna,
Your statement that Lent is “about the journey of deeply drawing near to Him who is faithful to take us through,” really spoke to me. It is all about abiding in our Savior that is a continual journey of discovery.
Verna Bowman says
February 6, 2016 at 3:19 pmContinual – and He is faithful to never part ways on the journey 🙂 Thank you, Lynda . . .
Glenda Mills says
February 6, 2016 at 6:45 pmVerna, It’s been about six months since I did the Facebook cleanse. I can tell you I haven’t missed it a bit, and the peace that came through decluttering my mind has been absolutely life changing. The comforting part is when I hear from good friends like you through an email or a phone call.
Hugs and prayers.
Verna Bowman says
February 7, 2016 at 3:03 pmI know and I understand . . . I must ration my time and good judgement concerning the social saturation. I have so little time but I will say, I love to be able to check who needs prayer or the current stuff with grandchildren 🙂 But you’re so right – a facebook connection can never replace a heart connection through email and phone chats – so grateful we still have that, no matter how far 🙂
Ruth Baker says
February 7, 2016 at 2:35 pmDearest Verna,
Yes, and yes again, to “take hallowed time”… to “take first time” in the “It is written.”
Isaiah 50:4-5 rejoices the heart with promise and assurance. “The Lord God… He awakens me morning by morning; He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple (a learner). The Lord God opens my ear, and I was not disobedient. I did not turn back.” May we be encouraged to rise early and seek Him. He speaks and gives us ears to hear! Much love.
Verna Bowman says
February 7, 2016 at 3:04 pmThank you Ruth – I so miss you and the good Word you always have to share . . . I love this rich and securing Word from Isaiah (and did you know that’s what we’re doing in Precept right now? 🙂