Psalms 25:4 – Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.

Gratitude Day 812

Today is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent for 2023.

Lent is a time period of 40 days before Easter in which Christians are called to think about their life and relationship with God. This is the time of the year when we may give something up as a way to remember Christ’s sacrifice for us. Historically, Lent has been when we are encouraged to dig deeper in our faith and contemplate the more challenging aspects of Jesus’ purpose on earth.

Yet, Lent sometimes has become almost a footnote of the Christian faith. At the church where Hubby Rick and I visited on Sunday, the words “Lent” or “Ash Wednesday” were not mentioned once. Why? I’m not sure. Is it because our lives are so filled with other things that it seems Lent is just another thing on the list to do? Are the themes of Lent unpopular these days? I’m not sure.

Personally, I find Lent such an important part of my spiritual journey. Just as important as Advent. I find it difficult to have my heart ready for Holy Week, my absolute most favorite time of the Christian year, unless I have sojourned through Lent.

And yet, I find myself yearning different things right now. Is it because I am well into middle age and find myself checking a box when asked to identify my age that is on the lower part of the list rather than the younger part? Or am I really thinking about how I am living the second half of my life and how this relates to my faith and belief in an all-loving, all-encompassing God who I desperately want to be reflected in the choices and how I live my daily life? Possibly it is because we recently moved and have gone through a significant downsize. I mean a serious downsize, with intentionally choosing a smaller house and having fewer things precipitated by knowing we wanted to deal with less stuff in this next phase of our lives?

All of this has contributed to my thought processes these days. While unpacking another round of boxes recently, I came to realize that I just did not want less physical stuff in my life. I want less in general. As I have unpacked each box, I have been so intentional about what I keep. Only what has an actual place and purpose gets to stay in this house. Yes, the purpose can be because something brings me joy. But if something does not fall into these two categories, it finds a new home. Seriously.

The word that kept bubbling up that I want in my life is “simple.” I have found this very ironic, since we have moved into a house that on the outside, is as about has plain and simple as they come. This is after living in a house that had this gorgeous porch that we adored and loved. A house bursting with character and life. Now, we live in a house that is grey. (Mind you, grey is like my favorite decorating color but this girl really is a plain Jane.) Flat on the front. You might drive right by it and not even notice it because it is, well, so simple.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s a metaphor for my life right now.

Simple. My heart yearns and longs for it these days. But it’s not just about having fewer things in my life right now. It’s about having less in general. Focusing on the few things that really are most important to me rather than trying to do it all. Appreciating every simple little interaction that I have with people who I love, adore and want to spend time with. Having things, whether physical, actual or figuratively, in my life that bring me great joy, peace and contentment.

So, this my friends, is what I am focusing on this Lent. Simple IS better. How might I instill as much simply into my daily living so that I am positive the most important little moments have truly become the big moments of each and every day? I invite you to join me in the next 40 days in finding out simple ways to ensure this is how you are living your life as well. Will you join me on this journey of finding that simple can and is better?

The last few weeks, one way that I have discovered a new simple involves becoming a taxi driver for our 12-year-old granddaughter and her friend. They want to go to a gymnastics gym once a week. I willingly agreed to be their transportation driver, along with the snack provider on the way to gymnastics, which is either a 30-minute drive or a 60-minute drive one way.

After two plus hours of gymnastics, the girls are “starving;” their word of course. We have made it a weekly habit to stop at their favorite restaurant these days, Culver’s, and get dinner. During dinner, I ask the girls to simply put their phones away so we can have dinner conversation. We chat about their practice. Or school. Sometimes I ask them different questions about their favorite things, which helps me try and understand today’s tweens.

And then, we get back into the car and drive home. This part of the drive is often very quiet. The girls are looking at things on their phones with often little conversation between even the two of them. I have come to relish these evenings and all three of us are disappointed when the weather has forced a practice to be canceled.

It’s a simple thing, driving these girls and getting them dinner. Yet, I love hearing how they are learning or perfecting a new skill. Sometimes they share little tidbits about another girl they have met or an experience that happened inside or outside of the gym. We do not have deep conversations but more often listen to the music they love. It’s just simple.

But maybe, just maybe, it’s also ministry. We talk about the lock-in they both recently attended. We say grace before we eat. When appropriate, I encourage them to think about a situation from a slightly different perspective. The words, “Preach the Gospel daily but only use words when necessary” are always lurking in the background and encouraging me in what I do and say.

Simple. Simple is better. Or at least this is what my heart is saying these days. It’s what I feel called to share with others and so what we will explore these next 40 days. Will you join me on this Lenten journey of simple?

Let’s begin it simply. If you are able to attend an Ash Wednesday service today, please do so. Or if you are in a place that is getting snow and ice today, create your own simple Ash Wednesday practice. Simply light a candle. Sit with it quietly and think about where you would like simpler in your daily living. Is it decluttering and getting rid of physical things? Is it have a calendar with fewer commitments or only the most important commitments? Is it allowing yourself to find joy and peace in daily living because this is what you look for first?

Identify three specific places/ways in your life that simple sounds oh, so good. Keep your expectations low. Pick three areas that you can comfortably commit to in the next 40 days. Save the big stuff for later. Today, focus on just three specific ways you will embrace simple this Lent. And together, let’s let these three simple attitudes guide our Lenten journey.

For finding and embracing the word “simple” in my life these days, I am grateful.

Blessings –

O Holy God – Our Christian calendar says today is Ash Wednesday – a time for us to think a bit deeper about faith, You and what all of this means in our daily lives. May I embrace an attitude of simply finding You and what is so important to me in my daily life. Help me discover the simplicity of my faith, rooted in You. Amen.

If you have enjoyed this blog, please pass it along to someone else who will also enjoy it

Simple is Better – Lent 2023

Psalms 25:4 – Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.

Gratitude Day 812

Today is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent for 2023.

Lent is a time period of 40 days before Easter in which Christians are called to think about their life and relationship with God. This is the time of the year when we may give something up as a way to remember Christ’s sacrifice for us. Historically, Lent has been when we are encouraged to dig deeper in our faith and contemplate the more challenging aspects of Jesus’ purpose on earth.

Yet, Lent sometimes has become almost a footnote of the Christian faith. At the church where Hubby Rick and I visited on Sunday, the words “Lent” or “Ash Wednesday” were not mentioned once. Why? I’m not sure. Is it because our lives are so filled with other things that it seems Lent is just another thing on the list to do? Are the themes of Lent unpopular these days? I’m not sure.

Personally, I find Lent such an important part of my spiritual journey. Just as important as Advent. I find it difficult to have my heart ready for Holy Week, my absolute most favorite time of the Christian year, unless I have sojourned through Lent.

And yet, I find myself yearning different things right now. Is it because I am well into middle age and find myself checking a box when asked to identify my age that is on the lower part of the list rather than the younger part? Or am I really thinking about how I am living the second half of my life and how this relates to my faith and belief in an all-loving, all-encompassing God who I desperately want to be reflected in the choices and how I live my daily life? Possibly it is because we recently moved and have gone through a significant downsize. I mean a serious downsize, with intentionally choosing a smaller house and having fewer things precipitated by knowing we wanted to deal with less stuff in this next phase of our lives?

All of this has contributed to my thought processes these days. While unpacking another round of boxes recently, I came to realize that I just did not want less physical stuff in my life. I want less in general. As I have unpacked each box, I have been so intentional about what I keep. Only what has an actual place and purpose gets to stay in this house. Yes, the purpose can be because something brings me joy. But if something does not fall into these two categories, it finds a new home. Seriously.

The word that kept bubbling up that I want in my life is “simple.” I have found this very ironic, since we have moved into a house that on the outside, is as about has plain and simple as they come. This is after living in a house that had this gorgeous porch that we adored and loved. A house bursting with character and life. Now, we live in a house that is grey. (Mind you, grey is like my favorite decorating color but this girl really is a plain Jane.) Flat on the front. You might drive right by it and not even notice it because it is, well, so simple.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s a metaphor for my life right now.

Simple. My heart yearns and longs for it these days. But it’s not just about having fewer things in my life right now. It’s about having less in general. Focusing on the few things that really are most important to me rather than trying to do it all. Appreciating every simple little interaction that I have with people who I love, adore and want to spend time with. Having things, whether physical, actual or figuratively, in my life that bring me great joy, peace and contentment.

So, this my friends, is what I am focusing on this Lent. Simple IS better. How might I instill as much simply into my daily living so that I am positive the most important little moments have truly become the big moments of each and every day? I invite you to join me in the next 40 days in finding out simple ways to ensure this is how you are living your life as well. Will you join me on this journey of finding that simple can and is better?

The last few weeks, one way that I have discovered a new simple involves becoming a taxi driver for our 12-year-old granddaughter and her friend. They want to go to a gymnastics gym once a week. I willingly agreed to be their transportation driver, along with the snack provider on the way to gymnastics, which is either a 30-minute drive or a 60-minute drive one way.

After two plus hours of gymnastics, the girls are “starving;” their word of course. We have made it a weekly habit to stop at their favorite restaurant these days, Culver’s, and get dinner. During dinner, I ask the girls to simply put their phones away so we can have dinner conversation. We chat about their practice. Or school. Sometimes I ask them different questions about their favorite things, which helps me try and understand today’s tweens.

And then, we get back into the car and drive home. This part of the drive is often very quiet. The girls are looking at things on their phones with often little conversation between even the two of them. I have come to relish these evenings and all three of us are disappointed when the weather has forced a practice to be canceled.

It’s a simple thing, driving these girls and getting them dinner. Yet, I love hearing how they are learning or perfecting a new skill. Sometimes they share little tidbits about another girl they have met or an experience that happened inside or outside of the gym. We do not have deep conversations but more often listen to the music they love. It’s just simple.

But maybe, just maybe, it’s also ministry. We talk about the lock-in they both recently attended. We say grace before we eat. When appropriate, I encourage them to think about a situation from a slightly different perspective. The words, “Preach the Gospel daily but only use words when necessary” are always lurking in the background and encouraging me in what I do and say.

Simple. Simple is better. Or at least this is what my heart is saying these days. It’s what I feel called to share with others and so what we will explore these next 40 days. Will you join me on this Lenten journey of simple?

Let’s begin it simply. If you are able to attend an Ash Wednesday service today, please do so. Or if you are in a place that is getting snow and ice today, create your own simple Ash Wednesday practice. Simply light a candle. Sit with it quietly and think about where you would like simpler in your daily living. Is it decluttering and getting rid of physical things? Is it have a calendar with fewer commitments or only the most important commitments? Is it allowing yourself to find joy and peace in daily living because this is what you look for first?

Identify three specific places/ways in your life that simple sounds oh, so good. Keep your expectations low. Pick three areas that you can comfortably commit to in the next 40 days. Save the big stuff for later. Today, focus on just three specific ways you will embrace simple this Lent. And together, let’s let these three simple attitudes guide our Lenten journey.

For finding and embracing the word “simple” in my life these days, I am grateful.

Blessings –

O Holy God – Our Christian calendar says today is Ash Wednesday – a time for us to think a bit deeper about faith, You and what all of this means in our daily lives. May I embrace an attitude of simply finding You and what is so important to me in my daily life. Help me discover the simplicity of my faith, rooted in You. Amen.

If you have enjoyed this blog, please pass it along to someone else who will also enjoy it