What is Lent?

Lent is the 40 day journey to the cross as we prepare for Easter. It is a time of self-reflection and self-examination where we are encouraged to look within our hearts so that we can live as Christ’s disciples to all the world. It is a time to admit the areas we have messed up and know that God still loves us.

I can remember as a child having friends who gave something up for lent. I didn’t really understand it. That was not a practice I was familiar with. It wasn’t until I really began to explore what Lent meant that I realized why they did this. People weren’t just giving up chocolate to give up chocolate, but giving something up that they prioritized over God and God’s truth. Giving up something that gets in the way of them living into their full belovedness and sharing that with the world.

What did you give up this lent? I am working on the way in which I pre-judge people. It is easy to make assumptions about a person based on your first interaction, but it isn’t healthy. Assumptions lead to judgment that can make you miss out on a friendship or positive relationship in your life. I am leaning into seeing every single person as a child of God, hearing their story and seeing the good in each one of us.

Honestly, that is the way I am finding hope in this season and will try and continue to do this from here on out. I encourage each of you to try and find ways you can connect with God this lent. To embrace the call to love all of God’s people and come to Easter ready to rise from the ashes and live fully and abundantly.

– Pastor Ali