Lent 2010

Almighty God, You have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by Your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

I come away from this service with such a sense of peace.  One of the great beauties of the liturgy is that it focuses us back on God and away from ourselves and this world.  I spend too much time in the non-liturgical tradition trying to reinvent the wheel or trying to figure out how to stay close to God.  It's unsettling.  Here, here is the rhythm of spiritual life that has the power to transform and bring peace and an abiding joy.  I'm not trying to figure out what to do.  I can simply focus on God.

(Oh, not that you can't find those things in a Baptist church or any other Evangelical church.  Don't misunderstand me.  I'm speaking for myself here and of my own personal experience.)

There's so much more I could say, but I hesitate.  I'm afraid of who might read this and be offended.  (Or, worse yet, they won't exactly be offended, but they'll judge me and think me less of a Christian for what I say.)

So, anyway, I'm not exactly giving anything up for Lent, but I guess I am in a way.  I'm forgoing my morning internet time and spending that time with God instead.  Obviously, I should have been doing this all along, but, see, this is where the liturgical year pulls you out of ruts and shakes you up a bit to make you refocus.


I haven't decided yet which book I'll read.  I'm working through Madeleine L'Engle's book Circle of Quiet which is beautiful.  I'm not sure it's quite the right book, though.  I am reading Hebridean Altars, too, and that is much more appropriate for a morning quiet time.  Suggestions welcome! :)