Lent invites growth in our relationship with God

For many Christians, we are nine days into our Lenten journey in the wilderness. A season set aside by the church for spiritual examination, prayer, fasting, and giving to those in need. An invitation to grow in our relationship with God and each other.

While most of us are more than ready to get out of the wilderness of the past year, I hope we will not rush back to “normal” too quickly. It is part of the reason the Hebrews ended up wandering for 40 years, after escaping slavery in Egypt. They needed to let go of what they thought they wanted from the past, so they could start new in the promised land. They also needed to learn how to live as a community with God. Once they had everything they wanted, it could be too easy to forget from where their help comes and think they can make it on their own.

Throughout scripture, you find the people of God are the most receptive to what the Holy Spirit wants to teach them, when they are lost, struggling or uncertain about what to do next. Those times when all we can say is, “Help” and “I can’t”.

It made me think of four statements the main character of my favorite mystery series teaches his new detectives. Armand Gamache of Louise Penny’s book series, is a Chief Inspector of Homicide, who wrestles with faith, vocation, and how to do what is right for his family, career, and co-workers. To help his rookies understand his expectations and be successful on his team, he tells them to embody four statements. “I was wrong. I am sorry. I don’t know. And, I need help.”

These four statements capture the way of Lent and the way of the cross. They capture what we have struggled with the most, during the past year. And, what the Holy Spirit may want us to embody before we get back to “normal”. Our certainty about what we think we know, our unwillingness to repent, and our insistence on doing things our own way, has left communities of all shapes and sizes, broken.

I pray, we will spend these days leading to the cross, examining how we got here. I pray we will let go and listen and remember who we are, so the Holy Spirit can put to death those things that continue to divide us. I pray we will be receptive to the healing and transformation this will bring. Because, Jesus also showed us what God can do with mortal beings; we who are dust (Genesis 3:19b). Raise us up into the abundant life we share.

Lori Morton is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint.