In the Episcopal Church, we celebrate a season called “Lent.” It is a time to reflect on choices we have made in our past, forgive ourselves and others who have wronged us, make a sacrifice for the entirety of the season (giving up a bad habit or quitting something in our lives we feel is wrong), and to take up a daily or weekly practice which will strengthen our relationship with God.
We have given up so much already. We have covered our noses and mouths in attempts to save ourselves and our neighbors from a deadly virus. We have kept our distance from family and friends. We have celebrated holidays in the most unconventional ways. We have lost loved ones. It may seem a tough calling to give more to God. Prayers, certainly. More sacrifices?
I have decided to be more grateful and to take nothing for granted. Today, I would like to voice a sense of gratitude I feel for the people who are doing everything they can to help others. I feel very grateful for those protecting each other from COVID-19 and all other perils this world has recently thrown our way. I want to thank those who are continuing to stay the course as we dream of “normal” daily lives ahead.
I am grateful for the life God has given me. I am ever thankful for my family and friends, my husband, and the knowledge that this is not the end. We are reminded in this season of “Lent” that we are but dust, and to dust we shall return. If that happens sooner than later for me, I have lived a full and happy life with no regrets. I have learned to love deeply and I believe that one of the most important lessons life teaches us is to love our neighbors as ourselves. This proves to be difficult for us all. There are people in our lives who are hard to love, but those are the relationships that need love the most. They are the challenges God has given us to make peace with one another, to reconcile with those around us from whom we most differ.
If you are angry with God and feel abandoned, I implore you not to give up on God. A spiritual practice can bridge the gap in your relationship with God. Even if you feel you have exhausted all of your resources and have nothing more to give, open your heart, soul, and mind to receive God’s healing spirit.
In this Lenten season, I challenge you to set spiritual goals for your relationship with God. If you do not believe in God, or you call God by a different name, know that all beliefs are welcome in this challenge. Make a list of things you would like to change, give up, or a person to forgive. Practice these spiritual goals in the weeks to come, remembering them always in the back of your mind. This is not a New Year’s resolution. It is not a goal like losing weight or a secular practice like writing a letter to Santa. Look deep within yourself and see what changes you can make to bring you closer to God. You will gain a better understanding of love and hopefully strengthen your relationships with your neighbors.
As we say in the Episcopal Church, “Peace Be With You.”
–SJB