Lent - Day 8, Wed. March 4

The scripture readings for today are: Psalms 119:49-72, Psalms 49 & 53; Deuteronomy 9:13-21, Heb 3:12-19, John 2:23-3:15

All of these passages became alive within me. It's the beginning of the second week in Lent and I cannot help but see in the passages how important it is to deal with hardness of heart, of deceitfulness of sin, of the spirit denying flesh within me, and the beauty of the grace of God manifested in Jesus Christ.

So many of the things that weigh me down in the spirit and keep me from the life of God can happen so subtly. A busy day that gets wrapped up in busyness, performance, and duties also becomes a day to not stop, pray, re-focus heart, motives, attitudes, thoughts, and desires around what my purpose for doing all of things is about. Yesterday was one of those days for me. I was busy, but more making busyness, and the result was that I found myself realizing that I can be praised for "all that you get done", but at the same time, lonely within for God's presence and fellowship.

Henri Nouwen - my distant mentor in writing beyond the grave - said, "Jesus stressed the hidden life. Whether we give, pray or fast, we are to do it in a hidden way, not to be praised by people but to enter into closer communion with God."

Lent is a time to return to God; to confess how we can look for joy, satisfaction, approval in people and things that surround us -- all which might be gifts of God -- but are not God, and that is what my soul is really longing for.

A Prayer for Today:

"Father of mercy and light, have mercy on me. Shed your light on me by the work of your Holy Spirit given in me through Jesus your Son. May I SEE, HEAR, and LOVE what you desire. May the meditations of my heart and the words from my lips be filled with this mercy and light. Through Jesus Christ my Lord I pray. Amen"

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