I realize that “Psalms of Lament” has been front and center on the blog for many months now. Not that lament doesn’t have its place in life, but I’m ready to move on to something a bit more uplifting!
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to lead a weekend retreat focused on spiritual practices. We considered practices we might use during the season of Lent that bring us beyond the typical Lenten practices of sacrifice and self-denial. Those certainly have their place, but I think we limit our Lenten experience if we focus only on those.
One of my favorite images of the Lenten season is Barbara Brown Taylor’s description of Lent as a “springtime for the soul.” This reminds me that Lent is about so much more than giving up chocolate or swear words. The season of Lent calls us to a greater awareness of God’s presence. Just as Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all encountered God during their 40 days in the wilderness, we, too, look for new ways to encounter God in our lives during these 40 days of Lent. It is also a time for us to allow our souls to blossom.
May this Lent be a springtime for your soul!
