Thursday February 15th 2018 – mid afternoon
I did something really stupid today, {nothing new in that.}
I misspelled Lent.
The spelling I used was leant.
But on reflection, I think I might have spelled it right.
The verb to lean means to be in or move into a sloping position or incline from the perpendicular and rest for support against (something) or cause something to rest against.
According to UMC:
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means “spring.” The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.
Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others.
Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.
Lent is a time of digging deeper and drawing closer to the Lord, it no longer is a time of fasting, regret of sinning and asking for forgiveness in particular. Some people give up something they like and others try a new way of generosity, giving and volunteering. Over the years I have taken part in a photo a day, writing a day and reading a day through Lent. This year I had the feeling that God wanted something different in my response. But I wasn’t sure what it was so I just read the devotional and journaled and that is when I did the daft thing.
But in spelling Lent as leant. I pondered and thought deeply then relaxed because I think I got my answer God wants me to lean, to recline in his arms and I am happy to do so. So as I delve into this leaning I will share here as it happens.
What would happen if I leaned in more, leant on the only one who can sustain me? Time to experiment, time to evolve, time to lean.
Rebuilding Community 