This is the Pastor's Corner which is published each week in our local newspaper. It was not my scheduled turn to write it but some of our local churches have not been contributing so I sent this one in on the chance that they would need it. They did.
Lenten Season
By the time this Pastor's
Corner will be in the newspaper it will be at or near the season of Lent.
Lent is observed by many Christian denominations. During the forty
days of Lent we become more introspective and look at how we are
conducting our lives. Through this reflection we hopefully and
prayerfully decide to make changes that will make us more spiritual
and God centered,
When I was a child I did
not look forward to Lent. In my way of seeing things, Lent meant I
had to give up something like candy or pop and that I would have to
go to church every day for the next forty days. It seemed like an
incredible hardship for my ten year old self. The silver lining for
me was that at the end of Lent was the joyous day of Easter Sunday.
Now, many decades later I
see the season of Lent through a different lens. It really is a time
to reflect on how I can improve the way I conduct my life and make
this world a better place. It is sort of like a new years resolution
with a forty day window to make those changes.
The old way I looked at
Lent was 'what will I give up'. And, I will do some of that. I
will also start doing some things that will direct me toward being
more spiritual. More God centered. I plan to be a better listener.
I want to take the time to see the world through other people's eyes.
I want to love more.
We are all flawed
individuals and I am sure I will occasionally slip even though I am
determined to do so many good things. I know that God will be there
for me when that happens and God will pick me up, brush me off and
send me back on the path He wants me to follow.
I still may have the
occasional piece of candy.
Have a blessed season of
Lent,
Father Fred Steinbach
St. Andrew's Episcopal
Church
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