Lenten Journey

Today, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season of the Christian Church. Lent is to be a penitential season, whereby the Christian believer begins the journey toward the cross with Jesus. It is meant to be a time of self reflection and penitence/repentance. As children, we were always asking each other "what are you giving up for Lent?" It was usually candy or gum or something, and was only done until Easter Sunday when whatever we "gave up" was resumed, most often with a vengeance.

Tonight, at our service we were encouraged to do that which brings us closer to God, and closer to our neighbor, in love. We were reminded that the religious leaders of Jesus' day had built their whole lives and religious practice around a misunderstanding of God. The question was asked, "Don't you wish they could have given up what they were doing wrong?" I suppose that is the question we must all ask ourselves as well. Where do we have misunderstandings of God, and how do those misunderstandings direct how we express our faith. Am I able to give up those misunderstandings of God, if it means that I would move in a newer and better direction of loving God and neighbor. I would surely hope so.

So, I am hoping to move on that journey towards examining my understanding of God and how I might love God with all my heart, soul, and mind, and love my neighbor as myself.