The Beginning of Lent

We are at the start of Lent. 40 days of Lent. Usually I kind of dread Lent. It seems so dreary and harsh. It has always been something that I see the value of but don't necessarily enjoy - like eating vegetables. But this year is different. Maybe it's different for a lot of people in this economy. What once felt secure now feels insecure. What seemed solid now seems invisible. Jobs are drying up, people are holding onto their money, causing more jobs to be lost. I keep hearing people say this is good for us, that "we" deserve what is happening because of all the excess that the past 5+ years have brought us. I don't agree. Have we been too materialistic? Absolutely. But our system is dependent upon that! Our economy is based on people buying and selling goods - that's how money gets passed around. Free market, right? Has it been excessive? Yes. That needs to be reigned in. But to say people deserve to be losing their homes, that they deserve to be losing their jobs because of the amount of excess is not fair. No one deserves what is happening now.

Even at the Belfry, we have been brought to our knees by all of this. I can't believe that we're in a situation where an employee had to be laid off. It seems like a very dark time indeed. And when I say we've been brought to our knees, I mean we need to get on our knees and pray for guidance and support from God. These developments are shocking and unsettling. But we have to go back to prayer and try to discern what God would have us learn in the midst of all of this.

So this year, I'm going to resolve to make the most of Lent - to try and embrace everything it is about. Hopefully much will reveal itself through this time and experience, and resurrection will be at the other end.