Lent

“I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him.” Deuteronomy 30:15-16

Lent is known as a time of repentance - a transformative change of heart; yet in this transformation we need help in finding the right way to live the life God intends for us. 

The story is told about the father on a family holiday  who came across a large sign that read, “Road Closed. Do Not Enter.” The man proceeded around the sign because he was confident it would save them time. His wife was resistant to the adventure, but there was no turning back for this persistent road warrior. After a few miles of successful navigation, he began to boast about his gift of discernment. His proud smile was quickly replaced with humble sweat when the road led to a washed-out bridge. He turned the car around and retraced his tracks to the main road.

What Map are we using, what compass, whose direction do we follow? At the end of the day, wisdom is less about information than orienta­tion. All the geographic data points in the world are useless if we have no sense of where to find north.

Left to our own resources we tend to follow a nomadic direction that our hearts choose, until we submit to the authority of God's good compass. 

One writer puts it this way:

As the sailor locates his position on the sea by "shooting" the sun, so we may get our moral bearings by looking at God. We must begin with God. We are right when and only when we stand in a right position relative to God, and we are wrong so far and so long as we stand in any other position.

Gracious and Holy God,

For those times we have chosen death 

over life for ourselves,

Forgive us. [Silence]

For those times we have chosen death 

over life for others,

Forgive us. [Silence]

For those times we have chosen 

not to receive your blessings,

Forgive us. [Silence]

For those times we have prevented 

others from receiving your blessings,

Forgive us. [Silence]

For each time we have made 

the easy choice of law

over the hard choice of love,

Forgive us. [Silence]

O God of mercy,

Hear our prayers. Amen