Reflections (5 Ways to Experience Lent)

One of these images is upside down.

Reflection photography has always fascinated me. How something can look SO MUCH like the original, and yet, not be. The water reflects and copies every detail of the original creation, allowing humanity to admire and appreciate the original that much more. The perfect reflection photograph is one in which those looking can no longer tell which is the reflection- but can see every aspect of the original, of what it is that is being reflected.  Just as the disciple reflects the masters teachings.

 

(In no way do I claim to have taken these photos-they are taken by Kevin McNeil... here's an article about him: 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2275537/The-perfect-locations-spot-reflection--Incredible-photographs-landscape-perfectly-mirrored-lakes.html)

Today is Pancake Tuesday
Tomorrow the season changes, and as I stare out the window at the snowbanks that reach higher than the window itself (some even higher than the roof) I can't help but wish that today marked the end of Winter. Tomorrow the season won't change to Spring but on the church calendar the season will change. From the season after Epiphany to the season of Lent.

Most people in the church tradition I grew up in and have since been ordained in wouldn't even realize that the church has a calendar or seasons outside of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas (the Advent Season). Many churches who consider themselves more mainline and less liturgical (structured in worship) have moved away from the church calendar- which is neither good nor bad. It simply is the way it is. Having grown up in a small Baptist Church in a non-religious family I had no exposure to the church calendar or the structure of it until I went off to Bible College and began to learn.

Essentially Lent is a season of reflection- for many it is a time of sacrifice or fasting just as Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert after He was baptized and before He began public ministry. For us, this time of sacrifice runs for 46 days before Easter (40 days plus 6 Sundays) and serves as a time of reflection for us. Sacrifice allows us to realize what we have become dependent on, allows us to realize what we spend time on, what we value and why. More-so Lent serves as a time of reflection- not just on what we depend on but on the sacrifice that God gave by sending His Son, it allows us time to reflect on who Jesus is, who we are, how we are reflecting him.

To me, Lent is a yearly personal journey to reflect on Jesus Christ, the one to whom I owe my life. It is a time where I can reflect on my life and consider who and what it is that I value. It allows me time to consider the life of Jesus, what He taught, what He stood for, what He valued and to consider if those things align with what I teach, stand for and value. Essentially, Lent allows me time to reflect on who I am reflecting. Although I rarely sacrifice or fast from anything I always introduce more 'Jesus Time' as the season leads up to Easter, as I prepare to mourn and celebrate the greatest event in human history I make sure to spend time with the greatest Man in human history.


WAYS TO EXPERIENCE LENT: (don't do all of these.... pick one)

1. SPEND SOME TIME IN THE WORD
This is how I plan to spend my Lent season- reading daily the journey of Jesus- starting in the book or Luke (or Matthew, I haven't decided yet) and just reading what Jesus did, taught and experienced. This is a great practise for me over the next 40 days in preparation for Easter.

2. ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES
As much as reading God's word is important so is worshipping God and worshipping alongside other people. God calls us to journey together, to help each other, to walk with each other and that includes (in fact it often is accomplished through) worshipping Him together. Maybe you have stopped attending for some reason, maybe you've been afraid to go to church, maybe you don't go as often as you should. Take a chance and commit to attending church services this Lent Season.

3. GIVE UP SOMETHING AND SPEND THE TIME/MONEY ON JESUS
Sacrifice. God Sacrificed his Son. Jesus Sacrificed His heavenly home and his Earthly life. Sometimes we need to sacrifice. Give up what we think is important to realize that God is vitally important. Take the time you devout to something important for you and use that time to spend with God, stop buying things you don't need and give that money to a worthy cause, sacrifice something so that God can work in your life. People have been known to sacrifice: Coffee (ever notice how 'Roll Up The Rim or Dollar Coffee's are always in the late/winter early spring... right around Lent?), TV, Social Media, Certain Foods, Eating Out, Spending Money (seriously... a friend in college gave up spending ANY MONEY for Lent... I think that was more out of lack of money than anything though), Complaining...

Want a really fun list of stuff you can give up? https://lifeteen.com/blog/102-things-really-give-lent/

4. INTRODUCE/EXPAND ON YOUR DAILY PRAYER TIME
Maybe you read the Bible lots, maybe you go to church but you still are finding it hard to connect with God. Make a commitment during Lent to spend time in prayer- either through daily setting time throughout the day to pray or pausing throughout the day to pray. One way to accomplish this is to make a list of people and each day pray for a different person, you could even connect with them and find out what they really need prayer for. Ask your Pastor who in the church or community could use prayer, pray for your Pastor, ask God to reveal himself to you. Spend 40 days in prayer.


5. CHALLENGE YOURSELF
This is really part of each of the other aspects of ways to experience Lent- challenge yourself to read more, to go to church, to sacrifice, to pray. But when I say challenge yourself I mean examine yourself, consider what you are doing that you shouldn't be, or what you aren't doing that you should be and challenge yourself to give it up or input it into your life.
Confused yet?
Maybe you don't know your neighbours at all-- challenge yourself to get to know them, to love them.
Maybe you beat yourself up a lot-- challenge yourself to give yourself one compliment every day
Maybe you use apps or go to websites that you know you couldn't-- challenge yourself to avoid them for 40 days.
Maybe you have been meaning to do something for a long time--- make a plan and challenge yourself to fulfill that goal (with God's help)
Maybe you depend on yourself a lot-- challenge yourself to depend more on God
... get the idea now?



No matter where you find yourself on your spiritual journey this Pancake Tuesday I hope that you can spend some time in this next season, the Lent Season, growing closer to God and reflecting.
Reflecting on who He is.
Reflecting on who you are.
Reflecting on how you can better reflect Him and His love in this world.