From the Pulpit far away from a cake shop
Oh No…Lent is here again.
For many of us who profess to be Christians (a perilous journey), Lent looms
in midwinter before anything green has sprung above the ice and snow. And
It seems cruel to think about giving anything up when the whole experience
of winter has basically been giving things up. Being warm, going for long
walks with friends and dogs, sitting with friends and eating lovely food; for
me they are the things that make being human a good idea.
However, here I sit, five pounds (yes only five!!) fatter than I was in October,
possibly snacking on too many lovely tasting cakes each evening instead of
just one, and inhabiting a winter induced, snarly, crabbit space in my head;
poor Ashley!!. St Valentine has been shoved out of the way and Ash
Wednesday is upon me. I liken the feeling to a car going up an already
bumpy road, suddenly hitting the pothole that is Lent. The car shudders, and
I shudder with it. Christmas has only just happened, we are all just about
recovering from the over indulgences, the visiting grandchildren’s never
ceasing energies, closing curtains and turning on the lights at 3 pm, getting
up in the dark for morning prayer etc, so God, I have to
say…………………….
“Give something up? You must be kidding.”
Shouldn’t we all be rejoicing that spring is near and checking into a day spa,
sending out for gourmet meals, and scheduling a nice massage? The
pagans had a few great ideas!!! Hmmmmm, wise silence from heaven to
that prayer. So, Instead, I am faced with the idea of sacrificing whatever has
been my requirement to get through the winter, be
it over eating cake, buying books from Amazon,
criticizing my friends, gossiping, indulging in retail
therapy. Did I say over eating cake?
And I hope that as I make the daily effort of not
eating any cake; - something inessential for my
wellbeing- and putting the savings towards the
Motor Neuron Disease Scotland charity, I will be
following The Way of Jesus just a little.
Oh dear I have taken on a rather large deprivation for the next six (!!!)
weeks: no cake.
I also take on something for lent. The spiritual practice of centring prayer. I
say the Jesus prayer in my mind for at least 30 minutes each day in lent. I
need more silence at the core of my life, I need to listen to God, and this
discipline encourages that; and yes, it will also help to fill the gap that cake
used to fill. However, by untying myself from this attachment to delicious
cakes, I think and hope to tie myself more closely to God.
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