Stretch

What will I do differently for Lent this year? The first thing will be writing this. I’m a reader, NOT a writer. Here I go, doing a little stepping out of my comfort zone.
I’m going to share a personal story with you for this quiet, reflective time. 
As many of you know, I grew up in what I call the “real” Southeast. I was familiar with lots of Baptists and Methodists but Catholics and Lutherans were very rare. We knew and celebrated Mardi Gras every year but didn’t know much about Lent except that it came after Mardi Gras and before Easter Sunday when we got to rise before sunrise and dress in our new clothes with even hats, gloves, and a new purse if we were lucky.
In my mid twenties, I met this cute, L 3  (Life, Long, Lutheran). He definitely stretched me as we married, moved to the Philadelphia area, and joined a Lutheran Church. My foggy memory of that first Lenten Season is full of new things for me. Every Wednesday night a different group from our church would .make a meal to share before a worship service. These were different from what to me were traditional Wednesday night church and dinners. I don’t remember much about the worship services but I remember the dinners. They were very light, meatless, soup suppers. I never went home hungry but they left me with a different feeling than the full stomach feeling I usually had from church dinners. I think they did more to get me in a mood of true repentance than the worship service could have done. Repentance could mean stretch yourself and feel more hunger for food and more empathy for others. The term “Lent” took on a new, unique meaning. 
Let’s see how God can give us stretching opportunities this Lent as we journey together.

Prayer
Abba, Father  We thank you for being with us each day in our life journey. As you walk with us this Lent, help us to see and accept the times when we can step out of our comfort zone to share your love and grace to others. Help us keep our hearts and minds open to new possibilities.