Ash Wednesday is Feb 18, and the season of Lent begins. I always consider this time as an invitation to slow down, listen, and experience God. I consider what spiritual practices sharpen my inner vision and open the ears of my heart in preparation for Easter.
Lent is the 40-day period of deepening practices. Some find fasting and repentance essential for this journey. I like to select a devotional book based on Lent and also see this time as a opportunity for more extended quiet time and journaling. I would be amiss not to mention the book I wrote for Lent, 40 Voices. You can find it here.
I feel this year to enter Lent with silence, stillness and a listening heart. I hope to increase my morning prayer time with quiet contemplation on the gracious and grandeur of God and the love and sacrifice of Jesus. I am asking the Holy Spirit to show me what obstacles I cling to that prevents me for fully loving the Trinity and to create space in my heart for more and More.
I like how Sarah Parsons in her book A Clearing Season describes Lent:
“If we picture all the obstructions between us and God as a wilderness, Lent presents us with time to clear and cultivate a part of that wilderness, to create an open space in it.
In this newly opened space, we may live more freely and commune more closely with the divine. We can transform this wilderness and make it our home, our garden, a place that invites God in and asks God to stay.”
Clearing more space for God to expand. Less of me. Letting go of what no longer is life-giving. Decluttering the stuff and noise that blocks me from God. Releasing the urge to control and to know it all.
Henri Nouwen wrote this Lenten prayer, which is so fitting as we get ready for Lent .
“The Lenten season begins. It is a time to be with you, Lord, in a special way, a time to pray, to fast, and thus to follow you on your way to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and to the final victory over death.
I am still so divided. I truly want to follow you, but I also want to follow my own desires and lend an ear to the voices that speak about prestige, success, pleasure, power, and influence. Help me to become deaf to these voices and more attentive to your voice, which calls me to choose the narrow road to life.
I know that Lent is going to be a very hard time for me. The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life. I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions. There are not times or places without choices. And I know how deeply I resist choosing you.
Please, Lord, be with me at every moment and in every place. Give me the strength and the courage to live this season faithfully, so that, when Easter comes, I will be able to taste with joy the new life that you have prepared for me. Amen.”
I am with Henri in this prayer especially the desire to live this season faithfully and allow God to unfold what is needed in my life. I want to be an empty, waiting, speechless receptacle as Mary Oliver so beautifully wrote:
Blue Iris by Mary Oliver
Now that I’m free to be myself, who am I?
Can’t fly, can’t run, and see how slowly I walk.
Well, I think, I can read books.
“What’s that you’re doing?”
the green-headed fly shouts as it buzzes past.
I close the book.
Well, I can write down words, like these, softly.
“What’s that you’re doing?” whispers the wind, pausing
in a heap just outside the window.
Give me a little time, I say back to its staring, silver face.
It doesn’t happen all of a sudden, you know.
“Doesn’t it?“ says the wind, and breaks open, releasing
distillation of blue iris.
And my heart panics not to be, as I long to be,
the empty, waiting, pure, speechless receptacle.
How are you preparing your heart for Easter?
The following poem/prayer is on a necklace that I wear throughout Lent each year since I purchased it the early 2010’s (if memory serves correctly).
“Lord, sanctify the silence
With which we contemplate
Your boundless love for sinners,
Your sacrifice so great.
And grant us hope and patience
That, when the fast is gone,
New songs of “Alleluia!”
May greet your
Easter dawn!”
In searching for the poet, this is the first time I have found a definite statement. The necklace itself has the names “Ardon and Peter Mead.” But this morning, Google only confuses me. Peter Mead was/is a pastor, identified with Lenten prayers, but the name Ardon seems unconnected. When the name Napoleon Torres showed up in my string of Google searches, I thought perhaps only the necklace was crafted and sold by the Meads.
If anyone is aware of an authorized, published copy of this precious poem, please let me know. What a pleasure it would be to find a book filled with such spiritual insight and tender expression and to shelve it at arms length within my theological library. It would be great to continue using this piece in sermons and public liturgy with appropriate attribution.
Thanks for any help. Since I am not a regular user of Facebook, please use my academic email address to respond: cbayma@dbq.edu.
I would be happy
Praying you find the source. Thanks for sharing
My copy of 40 Voices is underlined and sprinkled with Post-Its, but I’ll be reading it again this year–no doubt finding fresh insights to ponder and take to heart.
ahh such kind words. Thank you!
You’re welcome, my friend!