What’s Different (02/18/2024)

Yesterday I was blessed to have two of my children and three of my grandsons for a visit. I so enjoyed catching up with them, learning what is new, seeing how especially my grandsons are maturing, learning who they are. As I sat and watched and listened, my mind flew back to when I was their age. Have I kept the good? Have I worked on the potential? Have I found a way to toss out the non-essential and those things that keep me from being who I know I am? As I sat this morning, considering my Lenten journey, I had to ask myself what is different about me from last year at this time?

Truly, shouldn’t we get better at this thing called life? Shouldn’t we make fewer mistakes? Shouldn’t we find the path easier? Shouldn’t we take our spiritual gains from Lent forward with us? Shouldn’t our Easter and beyond persona be different than our Ash Wednesday persona? I ask this because I find myself struggling with the same issues this Lent that I did last Lent.

As I think of my time with my grandsons, I realize the impact of their hope. They believe in possibilities. They trust that there’s a path. Have I become cynical in my older age? Where is my hope? Do I trust in the Way?

My morning coffee with the LORD was pretty serious this morning. I truly want to be who I am called to be, but like the Apostle Paul, I have a thorn or two that try as I might I don’t seem to be able to free myself of completely. And so, I found myself praying mightily this morning to our all-loving and ever-present LORD for help. I prayed that this Lent, through prayer, fasting, good works, and grace that I could move closer to the one I was created to be, and the one Christ calls me to be. I prayed that I don’t just show up for the events and miss the experience, that I don’t just try to get through Lent but that I open myself to the true spirit of Lent, the embrace of the LORD’s love for me and my response to that love. I prayed that Christ’s love truly makes me want to be a better me.

I have my time of prayer which I have increased for Lent. I have those things I am trying to do without to build my will power and my understanding of cooperating with the grace of the Spirit. I have those things I have promised to do for others throughout the Lenten season. And this morning I added an essential I haven’t really employed fully before. This morning, I gave my life to the LORD, I submitted to the LORD’s love and the LORD’s will for me. With all my heart, I uttered the words, “Your will, not mine.”

I pray that as we continue our Lenten journeys, we may increasingly search and seek to discern the LORD’s will for each of us. I pray that we may be guided by the Spirit to embrace that which we discern not just for the season but for our lives beyond Easter. I pray that for all of us, this Lent will be a time of growth, of discovery, and of love realized.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.

Thoughts? Questions? Requests? - katewiskus@gmail.com