March 17

Holding my three year old daughter on my hip, I was facing a friend, exchanging pleasantries, when two tiny hands gripped my chin and twisted my head around so that I was looking at her—my beloved child.  “Pay attention to me,” she said.  Lent invites us to turn our heads toward the One Who Loves and to pay attention.
 
Rather like a friend who always has helpful advice, the church offers us three steps for turning our heads—or repenting.  First we are to go into a desert (The church loves speaking metaphorically!) where we can see our lives in brighter, more searing, light.  In silence, in solitude, we are to turn inward and examine our thoughts, feelings, actions.  The heat of the desert forces us to notice what is weighing us down.  What are we carrying through life that is not useful or humane—resentment? prejudices? fears?  Whatever is no longer serving us or others well, we seek to let it go.  Finally, with clearer vision, with less weighing on our minds and hearts, we yield to the loving hand twisting our heads to see eyes that love us, eyes that need our love.
 
It is worthwhile to take these steps in order.  In the silence of prayer, may you find the grace to see.  In the discipline of fasting, may you find freedom to let go.  May Lent enable you to give and to receive whatever alms are need in order that “we may all be One.”