“For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)
In March, as the days begin to grow longer and the flowers quietly prepare to bloom, hope can spring up inside of us that perhaps we too will come to fruition. For several months now we have been journeying through the dark and dreary days of winter, through a divisive election, illnesses, surgeries, job transitions, mental health challenges, relationship struggles, deaths, and so much more. All the while our journey through life continues.
We recently welcomed a new slate of leaders to our church council, and we are praying for them as they begin the important work of dreaming about and implementing the many ways we can live out our faith together, as well as how we as a collective community of faithful individuals will navigate God’s calling for us in the world.
In just a few days we will step into the season of Lent – a time that encourages self-reflection and repentance. I love the passage from Ecclesiastes about everything having its due time because it reminds me to keep things in perspective. I’m well aware there are things in life that I can control, and yet much, much more than I cannot.
Lent and Good Friday are important reminders for us that our best life materializes when we turn ourselves toward God and place our trust in God’s presence and promises, rather than simply relying on our own limited human understanding and abilities.
And as a community of believers who have been called together at this time and in this place by the movement of God’s Spirit, it only seems fitting for us to take time throughout this season of Lent to pause, breathe, and immerse ourselves in God’s presence. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Sit in the warm sun and be comforted, and as you do, remember Jesus’ time in the desert. Pray for strength for yourself and this congregation. Get out in nature where you can see the vibrancy of new life. Pray for the countless growth opportunities waiting for you and our congregation. Take a walk near a body of water and listen to its movement. Pray that your spirit would be moved with excitement and renewal. Help someone accomplish something that has no apparent payoff for you. Pray and reflect on how much God has done for you.
My friends, may we all be reminded that for everything there is a season, and if we are willing to trust that God is always with us and always for us, then we can be confident that we will be just fine because we are exactly where we are meant to be in this moment. Have a blessed Lent!
Pastor Tony
