“Lent- Time To Recalibrate”

Perspective ….. a particular way of considering something, a point of view. The older I get the more I tend to value perspective. Having perspective helps me to not be so quick  to overreact and jump to conclusions, or to underreact and kick the can down the road. 

I find that my perspective can get blurry at times due to my current circumstance. If I’m flying into Newark airport at night, looking out at all the millions of lights, I can feel like a grain of sand on the beach. If I’m sitting in my chair at home watching the Super Bowl on TV, I can feel like I’m in control of everything…. seeing all the details, watching the replays, barking orders and advice to the players and coaches…. I’m in charge. If I’m feeling healthy, I don’t think about the shortness of my life. If I’m at the wake of a friend, I ponder how quickly life passes. 

The Psalmist reflects God’s perspective, reminding us that “the Lord knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.”(Ps. 103:13-17) It’s true wisdom to see life from God’s perspective and point of view….the only perspective that matters. 

Lent is a time of regaining perspective. As I receive ashes and hear “man you are dust and unto dust you shall return”, I can regain perspective on the shortness of life. I may reflect on friends who have passed away since they received ashes last year. Woe, who do I know that may be experiencing their last Lent in 2024… could be a close friend, could be me……yikes.  

So we’re in the early days of Lent 2024 and have great opportunities to recalibrate our perspective. The church calls us to “pray, fast, and give alms”… not as ends in themselves, but as aids to help us put first things first, to help us love God and our neighbor. The bottom line is still “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.” (Baltimore Catechism)

So let’s take a deep breath and relax. God wants us to have a good Lent. God wants us “to be happy with him forever in heaven”. May our Lenten practices help us bring our perspective into sharp focus so that it’s right in line with God’s perspective. And that would be very good news.