What I Gave Up for Lent

Dear Friends,

“So, what are doing for Lent this year?” Not surprisingly, I get this question a lot this time of year.

Part of me wants to answer, “Write sermons, teach Episcopal 101, lead the Sunday Forum, plan Holy Week liturgies, remind people to get their pledges in before the March 25 deadline in order to be recognized in the Easter leaflets, preside over funerals, meet with parishioners, and attend lots of meetings.”

But, of course, that’s not the point of this penitential season of self-reflection. Being a “professional” Christian doesn’t exempt you from seeking to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, it’s the most important thing I do.

But still, this all sounds like I’m avoiding the question. So, here’s what I’ve given up for Lent this year: my air pods. I routinely pop them in and listen to podcasts while taking those early morning walks or evening loops with the dogs.

In an effort to cultivate more silence in my life, I’m actively seeking to turn off some of the relentless noise that surrounds us. I’ve also committed to not turning on my car radio when I drive, although living next door to the church, it’s not much of a cross to bear.

Cultivating silence is a way of intentionally making space to listen to God’s voice. God is always speaking in and through and to us, if only we have “eyes to see and ears to hear.”

I commend this spiritual practice to you in these last weeks of Lent. [Spoiler Alert: it’s never too late in the season to pick up a Lenten discipline]. It may not be about air pods or your car radio, but find some space to listen for that “still, small voice” of God that daily nudges us to walk faithfully with our Lord.

Peace,

Tim+