Noticing

Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. 
- Acts 17:27 (The Message paraphrase)

I wrote most of these words a few years ago, but find them appropriate today. 

Lent began yesterday (because introverts deserve holidays, too). It’s the 40ish (Sundays don't count) days of preparation before Easter. Some of you may not have even noticed that it’s begun. 
Actually, that’s kind of the point. 
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The cats who live in our house cause a lot of trouble and have helped to depreciate the value of almost everything we own. But one thing I admire about them is that they notice everything. No movement goes overlooked. No item enters our house that they don’t sit on and sniff. No bird flies by without them pretending that they are brave hunters (while sitting behind the window). 

Cats are better at noticing than us humans. It’s pretty easy to walk through our lives and not notice. We don’t notice where God might be because we have places to go and people to meet. We don’t notice the non-verbals of those around us who are having a tough time. And the most interesting thing is that we often don’t notice what’s happening in the deep places within our own hearts and minds because we are so preoccupied. 

I’ve come to the conclusion that lent is really about awareness. 

If we are unaware of what’s within us, we can’t possibly open those places to Jesus. It's like a moment when you freak out over a seemingly random event, and you don't admit that the real reason is that you've been anxious about something else for a week and it's just surfacing now. That happens a lot. One thing is THE thing, but a lack of awareness projects that struggle into many unrelated areas. 

We often walk through our lives unaware of our own internal worlds, or unable to face our struggles head on. We ignore our frailty and live as if we are machines. Or we ignore our capabilities and live as if we are failures. 

Lent is the time when we notice everything happening in Jesus’ life and his world, so that we can start to notice new things within us and our world today. We learn to identify with the frail and powerful Jesus, and we openly allow Jesus to identify with our frail and capable humanity. We realize that the world is full of systems that bring life and death- and that we are caught in the middle of them. We admit we're in need, and we simultaneously learn that we are capable— capable of denying ourselves, of releasing unhealthy habits, and of moving toward new life. 

Lent is a chance for honest trust to lead to new hope. 

Lent comes from the Latin word for fortieth which is also where we get the word quarantine (apologies for mentioning that word). Centuries ago, people caught in sin would be quarantined from the church - removed for a time of purification in preparation for the major celebration of the year, Easter. That might seem harsh to us, but there was purpose in an intentional time to lean on Jesus in the wilderness. Soon, others in the church began to honestly say, "Yo, we're in need of a time of renewal too, for we all sin!" They began walking alongside the quarantined brothers and sisters, and the church eventually adopted a church-wide season of reflection, trust, and transformation. Together, they walked in honesty and frailty with Jesus, so that they were able to fully celebrate the hope and joy of resurrection. 

To experience the fullness of life, you must understand the taste of death. We have to become aware of our need, in order to allow Jesus to meet it. 

In some circles, lent has become a New Years Resolution: The Sequel. People give things up so that they can conquer a vice or become healthier. 
Instead, whether you give something up or not, I want to encourage you to embrace these forty days of awareness. Find time to reflect, and find time for meaningful spiritual conversations away from the busyness of the approaching spring. Get away with Jesus and become aware of what is deep within you. Choose to embrace your need for God, but also choose to trust God in new transformative ways. Become aware.

Lent is not a self-improvement project. It’s a journey with Jesus in a fresh way. It will indeed leave us changed, but the goal is more of Jesus, not simply a better version of ourselves. 
The pressure is off. You have a companion inviting you to dive a little deeper into the type of life that is possible- where joy and beauty live together with pain and frailty, yet always full of hope. 
Embrace lent this year by getting away with Jesus. He’s not remote; he’s near.
It’s worth the effort.

Jesus, open my spirit to new levels of honesty and trust with you today, so that I can notice where you want to shape and send me. 

Peace,
Keith