Living Into Lent

by Linda Holmes, Spiritual Director

Winter blossoms white and melts into rainbow colored flowers.
Lent welcomes life, stirs deep, draws forth, breathes warm,
Waking spring’s hostages to buried sins and borrowed sorrows.
Short days of cold stretch longer as sunlight reaches late into the night.
The earthbound growing strong, reaching out, rising up,
Break free to follow His familiar footsteps on to Calvary.
There at the cross the Son hangs heavy burdened;
Forsaken by the Father but not forgotten, and we are forgiven!
He lifts the fallen and the failing and forever sets them free
The clods of dirt flung far in sweet release, and
Flowers unfurl like flags upon the ancient family tree.

Words fall on the keyboard and click their bold face type onto this winter white page revealing a heart that knows and feels the stirring and yearning to surface from the deep places of bondage to live free.

The rhythmic passing of our days forms seasons that cycle by, God’s reminder to remember the glory and the grave. The echoes of Christmas ripple out into the future through days of suffering, stretching out to touch the edge of Easter’s hope. Once again I join the returning procession to the cross and on into the empty tomb. Resurrection wonder pierces my heart and lays me humbly down in the dirt to rise with Him, on the wings of Love, to walk on into His service.

Lent, the season that follows winter, the time given to choicefully, sacrificially, walk without certain comforts of this world, making space in hearts and minds and lives to welcome in the Suffering Savior, the Liberating King, our Risen Lord. 40 days to turn from stumbling down our path to follow His. 40 days to live less distracted and intentionally focused on the last days of Christ’s life. 40 days to remember and relive the journey to the cross where our story is found in His.

Questions to Ponder:
• What might you set aside, give up, give away, give back… opening you to daily consider the cost of Love?
• What would it look like to shake off the dirt that clings, the clods that weigh you down and hold you captive?
• Walking into freedom often leads to past pain and certain sorrows. Can you offer up a trail of thanksgiving paving the path to Calvary?
• Consider planning special acts of caring for others you meet along the way, allowing the hope that hallows darkened passages of time with resurrection radiance from the Son to touch and tend the wounds of others while healing yours.

Scripture:
I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths… You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalm 30: 1, 12

Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us consider ways to give up and sacrifice as we enter this season of Lent. Use them in our lives to remind us of your sacrifice and help us live into Easter hope. Please use the gift of resurrection, the love of the Living Lord to wash away the dirt that clings so we may more freely love for your sake.

Linda Holmes walks her days with Jesus in the company of her retired husband of 34 years, her 4 grown children and 3 delightful granddaughters, with eyes seeking to see beauty and share grace. Entrusted with the privilege of being a Spiritual Director to some, a retreat leader for many, and a friend to others, Linda also enjoys moments alone with God co-creating using in a variety of color, texture and design, painting pictures with words and making stories with pictures. Her new venture on the Board of Directors for The Springs offers a new backdrop for her craft and a place to help others meet with God. Click www.thespringsindiana.org to learn more about The Springs.