Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10
This year during Lent you will find here a reflection for each of the 40 days. They may be one’s thoughts, a story, a picture, a song, a link to something that someone found useful. It can be as creative as one likes or a simple reflection on a bible verse. And my hope is that many different people will contribute to this collective project.
Today’s reflection is an invitation to contribute to this project. Many of us were raised to give up something during Lent – sweets, caffeine, meat, swearing and technology of some sort have probably been at the top of the list. Lent has been described as a time of sacrifice to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. In recent years there has been some reframing of Lent to make it a time of developing some sort of spiritual practice – maybe pray a little more, practice some meditation, give some extra money to a worthy cause, read the bible more. These too are worthy efforts.
This year I may use Lent as an excuse to work on some new behavior (haven’t quite decided yet), but I have decided to use it as a time to remember. I will do things to remember the new and right spirit that God gives us. It’s a spirit of “I get to” and not just “I have to.” My remembrance will be grounded in my identity as God’s beloved one – something too easily forgotten. I will practice daily, hourly, remembering who I am and whose I am. And you get to join me!
In remembrance, Pastor Gaeta
p.s. There will be a worship service with imposition of ashes and holy communion tonight at 7:30pm