Pastor's Corner: Open your heart and mind during Lent

Lent is a season in the life in the Church when we observe the forty days leading to Jesus’ death on the cross. It began this week with Ash Wednesday when clergy all over the world dispense ashes — usually made by burning the palm fronds distributed on last year’s Palm Sunday — making the sign of the cross on the bowed foreheads before them. As they “impose” or “dispense” the ashes, the pastor or priest reminds each Christian of Genesis 3:19: “For dust you are and to dust you shall return.” It is the beginning of our preparation for Easter’s celebration. But this day is a day to remember our fragility, our dependence on God’s grace, and our ultimate hope. 

For Christians around the world, Lent is a time of self-reflection and spiritual discipline. We take time to examine ourselves and our relationship with God in Christ. This is a good time to look inwards at our lives and ask ourselves, what are some ways that I feel connected with God and my faith is nurtured? We should do more of those things! And on the other hand, what are some things that are pulling me away from my relationship with God? What are some barriers to my faith — such as temptations, hardships, questions, doubts? What is one area that I can strive to grow closer to God during this season of Lent?

In Scripture, the Apostle Paul writes that daily we die to ourselves and rise to Christ. This means that, on a daily basis, we are called to let our selfish desires for ourselves die so that the desires for the welfare of the other will rise up. This is what it means to live in Christ — to let our own desires for oneself be crucified. And this is often the message we hear in Lent, right? Give up something that tempts you so that you have more space in your life for God. But I think what is often lost in the giving up of chips, chocolate or soda pop is the true intentions of our heart.

In a quote from Pope Francis, he invites us to fast this Lent from hurting words, sadness and anger, pessimism and worry, complaints, pressures, grudges, and bitterness. And when we let go of these things that serve only us, we open our hearts to a purpose that is greater than ourselves — to say kind words and be compassionate to others, to be filled with gratitude, patience, joy, and hope, to have trust in God and be prayerful, to contemplate simplicity, and to be reconciled. Every day, we give up so that we might gain.

Over the years, I have participated in several different Lenten practices. One of the most common practices for churches is a Lenten soup supper and bible study. This is a chance to gather together in community over a simple meal and dive deeper into God’s word to us in Scripture.

One of my favorite practices was, during a retreat, I made a list of people for whom I was thankful. As I thought about different chapters of my life, the list kept growing and growing! So during Lent, I decided to make it a practice each morning to send a note to someone with this Scripture from Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you,” a personal note of gratitude, and a specific way that I was praying for them. The daily habit of being thankful as well as the ways that it connected me to the other, and how these notes were received by my friends and family, showed me God in the midst of human relationships.

Another practice that I did during seminary was I started paying attention to the sufferings of Christians around the world. Each day, I prayed for a different country, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. I found resources that provided some information about Christians in that specific country and I signed up for a daily devotional that told the stories of individuals around the world and the challenges that they faced to practice their faith in their country. It was an eye-opening experience for me and I felt more connected to the global church.

This year for Lent, I am going to re-read the book “Seven: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess” by Jen Hatmaker. Each week, I will simplify in one area of life and reflect on what I learn about my relationship to clothing, spending waste, food, possessions, media, and stress.

However you choose to devote yourself this Lenten season, open your heart and your mind to a “spiritual” that will reveal to you the love, grace, and forgiveness that Jesus models on the cross for us.

Peace be with you.

Maggie Lewis is pastor of First Presbyterian Church Havre and Chinook Presbyterian Church