The word "Lent" comes from an Old English word meaning "spring."  If you think about it, no word could provide a nicer image for a season of spiritual renewal.  In the spring, bulbs that have lay dormant all winter come to life.  Birds begin to build nests and look for mates.  And buds form on tree branches that have stood bare for months.

That's what Lent is like.  It's the time of year when our souls begin to stretch and reach out for the light of God's grace.  We will celebrate the fullness of that grace at Easter, the festival of Christ's resurrection.  But the build-up to that celebration-the growth that makes it possible-takes place during Lent.  It truly is the "springtime of the soul."

Some people give up certain foods and activities for Lent.  There's nothing wrong with that, as long as the purpose of giving those things up is to make room for spiritual growth.  But even if you don't give up a thing, Lent can be a time of reflecting on God's love and examining our own reactions to that love.  After all, everything we have is from God.  Lent is the perfect time to let that realization sink deep into our hearts, souls, and minds.

Here at St. Paul's, Lent is a subdued season.  It's a time when we are all invited to reflect, to pray, and to grow.  If you don't have a church home, we invite you to come join us during this contemplative season.  We'll wait together as God's light, like the sunshine in the spring, grows in our hearts day by day.


Yours in Christ,

Pr. John Keating+
Pr. Gregory Eidell+