Lenten Experiment - Day 40 Something!

How is it that old cliche goes? Better late than never. Ha ha ha. Well, I guess that about sums up my struggle this week with completing my commitment to my blog for Lent. Easter weekend was busy with commitments and activities despite our small family. And, as I began to reflect more on how to summarize the Lenten blog experience, I got bogged down in a quagmire of indecision and exhaustion.

Here it is Friday after Easter, 4:47 a.m. and I decided it is very important to finish what I started no matter what time it is, no matter how tired I am, and no matter whether I finish successfully or not (at least in my own limited mindscape).

I've felt for some time that the summation of 40 days of thoughts might be a bit daunting task to undertake. And, frankly, I may ruminate over this thing a bit more before I get it all down on cyber-paper. The 40 days of Lent have revealed much to me about wonder, family, life, death, God's work in this world and in my life and many other things.

To begin, I need to share a list of words that summarize this recent learning experience.

Life

Death

Family

Contemplation

Understanding

Darkness

Light

Chosen

Joyful

Hope

Blessings

Faith

Listening

Peace

Observation

Friends

Encouragement

Persevere

Prayer

Penitence

Giving

Self-Denial

Last night I watched another Skit Guys video on YouTube and it spoke to me in a deep way because as I tallied up the list of words that capsulized the Lenten Experiment, I realized those words represented something much more. While, just words, they are qualities, attitudes, ideas, and thoughts that have indeed enriched and shaped my existence. Simply put, they have been tools in God's hands - tools to mold me into something new; someone new.

So, watch God's Chisel from the Skit Guys and let it shape your thoughts, your heart, your life. Only as we submit to God's work in our life, can we truly grow and develop and become more like Him. We are God's masterpiece!

Lenten Experiment - Day 39 (A Day of Darkness)

I'm always amazed each morning as I wake up to the view outside my kitchen windows. An easterly view means most mornings I can experience the wonder of specatular light shows that many people call "dawn" as the sun makes its appearance from behind the large hill across the road. Today, misty fog and droplets of rain permeate the blackened hillsides around our home. The spacious carpeted field rolling out before the window, gives way to more fields and bushy tree sentinels guarding the streams and creeks. Then just beyond, the treetops are crowned by the barren limestone hills. These hills are now charcoaled from the recent Spring burning.

It's a most appropriate symbol for the darkness of the day before Easter. As I imagine the events of the first century, it's only fitting that today would be a day filled with regret, doubts, sorrow, fear and the overpowering stench of death.

The annual cycle of grass burning brings pungency, dense smoke to the area, ribbons of fire across the night skies, but ultimately and most importantly, it brings new life to the prairie--germinating the prairie grass seeds and revitalizing their growth across the hills. Life and death - the circle of the prairie.

So is Easter--the ultimate completion of the life and death cycle prophesied from the Ancient of Days.

A new dawn is approaching - it is imminent, certain - reassuring is the promise of Easter morning.

The Lord's lovingkindnesses never cease; His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. (Lam 3:22, 23 NASB)

Lenten Experiment - Day 37 & 38 (Reflections on Easter)

As I look back at my Lenten Experiment these past several weeks, I'm reminded of Lent as a child and what it meant to me. Growing up in the Catholic Church, all I recall about Lent was keeping to a fishy diet on Fridays and giving up chocolate or candy. It seemed like the adults were more reverent during that time. However, as my Mom prepared me for Easter Sunday, it was all about donning a pretty new dress with white shoes and receiving brightly colored wicker baskets full of plastic green grass cushioning colorful arrays of foil wrapped chocolate eggs and chewy jelly beans. And, of course, the abundance and glory of Easter dinner. My mom literally didn't know how to cook for just three of us. I never understood how an only child such as herself cooked for an army. I think she just liked to try new side dishes.

The obligatory Easter Egg Hunt would commence on Sunday morning even before we went to Mass. It was always a rush around the house for lone, little me. Being an only child, it all was MINE--solid chocolate bunnies, jelly beans (black & orange ones are my favs), large Russell Stover chocolate eggs stuffed with coconut cream, maple (yucky!), strawberry and vanilla cream.

This Easter will be much different than those of my childhood. While I have tried to carry on the traditions established by my mom, this year will be much different. Our family is no longer in tact and we are missing those dear to us who cannot be here this year. It just doesn't "feel" like Easter. Once again, I find myself having unreasonable expectations about what the "perfect" holiday should look like. I know it's crazy, but I've always longed for a larger extended family, but when you and your husband are only children and all your parents are gone, the extended family, the support system just doesn't exist.

It will be a "lean" Easter this year - no extravegant meal, no new Easter bonnets or dresses, no Easter candy, no frivolities - simplicity will be the order of the day. And, as I reflect on this, it'a all about viewing the day with a grateful heart for those who are here, for the time we have, for the miraculous gift of this most sacred of days. For many, Christmas is probably the highlight of the year, but when weighed next to Easter and its true meaning, there is no greater celebration than the meaning of the cross.

Lenten Experiment - Day 35 (Make a Joyful Noise!)

Make a Joyful Noise! And, that's just what Brinna and her friends from church did today for the kick-off of Holy Week or as more are familiar with--Palm Sunday. This photo was taken at their last practice on Saturday. So fun - the waving of the sparklies. Later they waved palm leaves as well. The innocence and purity of children is wondrous. It was so evident in the kids' performance as they led the whole worship service in song and in story, preparing our hearts for Easter.

Proud Momma moments for me as Brinna performed her solo and then later shared her speaking part.

With Holy Week now upon us, I need to commit myself more to prayer each day - it is so vital to increase my faith and acknowledge His hand in my life, every little corner of it.

Make a joyful noise - every day this week!

Lenten Experiment (Day 34) - Hosanna

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS: We interrupt this blog to provide the readers with a bit of levity today—a relief from the sadness this week that seemed to overwhelm our writer. This is being done not to avoid the melancholy, but to prepare you to embrace this most holiest of seasons - Holy Week which begins tomorrow with Palm Sunday.

It all began a few weeks ago when, much to my horror, I agreed to sing in the newly formed church choir for Easter services. I haven't been a choir participant of any kind since my Catholic school days. Yikes! What was I thinking? Maybe I was encouraged by my youngest daughter, Brinna, who always signs up to sing in just about every children's musical at church. She DOES love to sing. I do, too, but only in the privacy of my truck on the way to work. It's not something I usually do publicly and certainly not for others to hear.

Maybe it was my inclination to please others. I just can't describe the feeling that came over me from somewhere down deep when my friend Wesa asked me to participate. I just couldn't say "No."

So began my foray into the mysterious world of choir singing. The group was small at first, but as we have moved closer to Easter, our numbers have swelled. Last Wednesday's practice was great - we were about 30 strong and "our song" is sounding terrific. I have to admit, though, it is one of my favorite Newsboys songs and I really delight in singing it to God.

Believe it or not - I'm actually excited about singing in public now. I'll probably be sick to my stomach all Easter morning and may even throw up around 8 a.m., but somehow I'll get through three services! Not by my strength, but through His. That's my mantra for next Sunday.

Hosanna in the highest! Hooray for salvation! Salvation has come!