Lent Is About Forgiveness

Lent is the journey deep into forgiveness. It's an invitation to travel deeper into the maze of the lost forest, mess-of-a-life that you've helped make for yourself. Eventually, you realize that no matter how hard you try, or how much penance you make, or how much shame and guilt you feel; you cannot get out of this wilderness on your own.

Lent is the time that you pause, look around and wonder to yourself, "How did I get here?"

It's a time to reorient yourself. Time to take inventory. Time to ask for directions and look at the map. It's time to re-calibrate your GPS. Time to realize that if you're going to make this journey of life, you must depend on something, someone, beyond yourself.

Lent is your journey toward realizing your total utter dependence upon the promise of Easter: God has shown us mercy through His Son.

Don't go too fast. Easter isn't here yet, but in some ways it already is. So it's tempting to take forgiveness and the One who gives it for granted. Stop, look, listen...become immersed and overwhelmed by the depth of mercy God shows.

May the Holy Spirit lead you to repentance, and assure you of God's forgiveness.