Lent 2020

I wish I had thought about this sooner, and marked this year with contemplation through the liturgical season. I sort of started ... but it never registered to become a conscious journey. Until today.

Last week (February 25) marked Shrove Tuesday ... and then Ash Wednesday, to begin the 40 days. Today is 35 more days, and I think I can still do something and make these days count for something. I remember when I fasted with Pathways, and I learned that fasting is not only the removal of food, but a conscious replacement of prayer. Lent is a time for reflection and preparation by replicating the sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for these days. Perhaps it is a good time to embark upon what I need to embark upon ...

Before Christmas, I made a rather significant discovery of self. In part, it has to do with cleaning, but it also has to do with preparing for death, for living this next chapter in fullness of what is possible. It seemed to me to be the time to set my mind to this and make effort into the preparation for a new life.

For the next 35 days, I wish to reflect on the life I have lived to now, the lesssons I’ve learned and the person into which I have been shaped. Let me imagine the person I want to yet become, and begin the journey to that place. This means not only internal, but to do the hard work needed externally.

I know what I need to do, I do not need to write it here. What I will write here is to return Thursday April 9th to report on this endeavour.

Sacrifice, reflection, contemplation ... preparation.
Let those words be my breathing prayers.
For the next 35 days.

Amen.