Lent

It is difficult to summon up enthusiasm for Lent this year. This is the time of year when Christians are encouraged to find ways to help prepare themselves for the events of Holy Week – the death and rising of Christ. In the past I have got all enthusiastic and tried to give up something tangible: one year it was coffee; (Oh the caffeine withdrawal symptoms!) another it was chocolate (pretty standard.) One year I announced to my congregation that I was giving up guilt. Of course that didn’t work at all. I was guilty, they were confused or astounded.

So perhaps the best I can manage this year is to be consciously attentive to the presence of God in ordinary, everyday things. And when I think about it, that will do just fine.