Celebrating family life | Seasonal Reflections
One of our grandsons recently celebrated his tenth birthday. On the eve of his big day, I pointed out that he was adding a digit to his age and would do so again when he turned one hundred. It was an interesting thought! I also mentioned that my tenth birthday was in 1960. After a few moments, he observed that I was born in 1950. We pay attention to the number of our age. When we turn multiples of five or ten, we attribute greater significance. Of course, every year is significant.
At some point, we think less about growing up and more about growing older. The challenge is to continue to grow at every age. Birthdays are a time to refocus, renew our vision, and look forward to how the next twelve months may surprise us.
Similarly, this time of Lent invites us to refocus, re-vision, and renew our perspective on the future. Lent provides time to become ever more aware of God’s purpose.
Like a new year coming of age, Lent is an opportunity to start again.
In this part of the world, there has been an incremental increase in daylight – slow and steady progress toward the promise of spring. Through all the ages of our lives, all the Lenten seasons, indeed, every day, we pray to make steady progress toward the Light of our lives.
Our practices, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving prepare us to let the Lord draw us closer to Himself. In this way, we are drawn to serve those around us. With His grace and love, His guiding Spirit leads us through all the ages of our lives to increasing light, continuing growth, and generous service.
We are servants of God’s reign in the world. We are committed to loving service to all God’s people. We walk along with the Lord Jesus in these holy days recognizing that loving service asks more of us than we sometimes care to give. We are called to continue to grow.
Lent reminds us that we are unfinished projects. The Lord loves us into becoming the persons He calls us to be.
“Good indeed is the LORD,
His mercy endures forever,
his faithfulness lasts through every generation.”
(Psalm 100:5)
Let our family prayer in this time of Lent ask for the grace to conform ourselves to God’s Spirit active in whatever age we happen to be.