“What are you doing for Lent?”
asked Paul last night.
That’s a really good question
and I have already spent quite some time
thinking about it
but so far
I’ve been unable to decide.
Each year I look forward to Lent
with a mixture of eagerness
and trepidation.
I find myself full of good intentions,
absolutely convinced
that by the end of Lent
I’ll be so much closer to My God.
But each year
I fall flat on my face.
My plans to abstain from tea, coffee
and all manner of sweet things
fade away,
faced down by St Patrick’s day, Mothers’ day,
not to even mention birthdays!
Each year
I find Lent to be
a truly humbling experience.
Today
after the Morning Service
at St Anne’s Cathedral
the Dean, John Mann,
gives me a copy of a book
that he, himself, has written.
It’s called Lent with St John’s Gospel.
I feel as if My God is saying to me,
“Claire,
why not try
something totally different this year?
I’ll help you!”
I’m delighted
and find that now
I’m really looking forward to Lent,
hoping that this year,
by the time Easter comes,
I’ll be even closer
to My God.
© Claire Murray, 9/2/16