Daily devotions start on Ash Wednesday (2/4/2008)

Lent starts this Wednesday -- a bit earlier in the year than usual. For once I'm actually a little excited about it. To be perfectly honest, I have spent years thoroughly and passionately disliking Lent. I knew Lent was an ancient liturgical practice that Christians have observed for many centuries, but to me it was bunk. I watched people around me give up do what I felt were nonsensical things, like giving up yummy Chocolate and bountiful feasts with friends. I got upset as leaders in the ministry, through well meaning intentions, took all the things I enjoyed out of worship (such as upbeat moods and joyful thoughts). From my perspective, Lent was flat out depressing. On top of that, it was stuck in a season when many of my friends and acquaintances have sometimes struggled with what gets called "seasonal affective disorder" or the "winter blues". Shouldn't the church be a source of joy in a season of sadness?

More recently, I've found communities and friends who have helped me begin to appreciate Lent as a spiritual practice. They've helped me realize that it isn't about randomly giving up things you may or may not really miss. The point is finding things you can do to help yourself return to God -- to help us focus on that relationship rather than spending so much time focused on ourselves -- and to strengthen faith communities so that we may more cohesively and effectively support each other and the world around us.

Lent is a season of the church year in which we focus energy on recognizing where we have strayed from God and make efforts to renew and strengthen our relationship with God. It is a time when we take notice of all the places in our lives where we attempt to live life independently from God, then repent of our failings and seek to follow more closely our Lord Jesus the Christ, the king of all who humbly allowed himself to be abused and executed upon a rugged cross wearing a crown of thorns.

I still can't say Lent is my favorite season of the church year, but I am truly excited this year for this opportunity to grow closer to God as part of this faith community here at George Mason University. Therefore, I'm going to write a DAILY devotion during Lent for all of you -- and it will be completely optional on your end. There are at least 3 ways you can receive these daily devotions:

1. Join our "Lenten Devotions" Facebook group.
2. Send gmuLutherans@bbuss.com an E-mail message asking to receive the devotions by email.
3. Subscribe to the RSS feed for this blog (see the top right corner of the page).

I'll commit to writing them if you commit to reading them. I'm looking forward to spending this virtual community time together with you!

Dear Lord, today we look inward, not with selfish desires, but in an effort to identify and purge ourselves of these desires. We look to you to help us discern what is really important in life. We look to each other, for support and understanding as we struggle to find you in our hearts. We look beyond ourselves and our community while listening for your gentle call to action in this world. Through all of this, we pray that your will be done. In Jesus name, Amen.