A Note from Pastor Mike Louia
12Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. (Joel 2:12-13, NRSV)
In our fast-paced world we seem to constantly be moving in a forward direction at break-neck speed. Hours race forward into days, days into weeks, weeks into months and months into years.
The advent of newer, faster technology was supposed to help us manage our time, be more productive and make our life easier. But it seems that instead of making life easier … it’s only gotten more complicated. What’s more our complicated lives seem to leave little room for our faith lives to be fed and nourished. Maybe you feel like me and experience many days when we feel like screaming “STOP!”
That’s the gift of Lent! For during Lent, we are provided that opportunity not only to stop, but to turn around (re-turn or “turn around” using the words of the LORD that the prophet Joel relays to God’s people). During Lent, God gives us the opportunity to stop in the path we may find ourselves trapped, and re-turn towards God on a path that helps us to experience the love of a God who “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” (Joel 2:13)
God’s invitation to Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues through the weeks of Lent into Holy Week. God’s invitation to Lent gives us the opportunity to spend time in prayer, to spend time in worship, to take a break from the fast-paced, technology-driven chaos that is our life, and to once again spend some quality time with God.
Many include fasting (or giving up something) during the season of Lent. Others, instead, take something on during Lent (such as Bible study or service in Jesus’ name). Whatever the case, God is waiting at the other end of the road, waiting for us to turn around, to turn from all that the world classifies as important, toward the gift of God’s patience with each of us.
Here's looking to taking the journey together!
Peace,
Pastor Mike