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| Altar, TEC chapel, NYC |
On
Ash Wednesday many of us set aspirational goals for a Lenten discipline. We
engaged those disciplines with the best of intentions, and with prayerful
consideration of the Holy season.
So
as we sit at the mid-way point of Lent, I especially invite us to reflect on
how we are doing with those: are we getting up that hour early to pray? Has our
abstinence from chocolate revealed great spiritual wisdom? Are we redirecting
our coffee funds to charity?
Are we still giving up whatever we gave up,
or taking on whatever we took on? Have we given up those intentions altogether,
or have we hit a lull in energy and intention?
While
it's wonderful if we are right on course, it is not meant to be guilt-inducing
if we are not. Part of the depth of a Lenten spiritual journey is the learning
experience of self-reflection, where we constantly consider and re-consider how
our actions are supporting our spiritual growth (and amending as may be best
for that growth).
For
example, if starting the day with the daily office leads to a more harmonious
family breakfast, then that action is encouraged to continue as-is. However, if
giving up coffee is making your interactions with colleagues less loving,
perhaps that is not the spiritual discipline for you.
Preparing
our hearts and minds for Easter is not an easy spiritual journey, yet it is
certainly one worth making. So those Lenten disciplines that support the
journey are to be celebrated and upheld. And we ask God's guidance to let go of
those disciplines which are not helpful, that we might re-direct our energy
into practices that will lead us closer to God. It's never too late to start a
new journey towards Jesus.
May
God grant us the grace to grow through a hope-filled and Holy Lent.
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