A time to return to God...

Often the demands of our daily living take us further and further away from the one who gives us life. Lent is a time to return to God, to refocus ourselves on our relationship with God. It is a time to return to who we most deeply are: children of God.

Lent has often included, in the common tradition of the church, the practice of giving something up. Sometimes we give up something we’d like to let go of but have difficulty stepping away from. Sometimes we give up something precious in order to sharpen our focus. I, sometimes even do something new to mark devotion. Whatever addition or subtraction we choose to do this year is part of our yearning to return to God. Even the best of our spiritual practices are not to be ends in themselves, but aids to our returning and to living our days with a full sense of God’s presence and love.

Abba, Father,
spark a fire in our hearts
the longing to come back to you.
May you use these days,
these days of lent,
as a time of a renewed relationship.
May you fill our hearts
with your love,
spirit
and peace.
May you use us
as an instrument this season,
use us as a riverbed,
of your understanding,
love,
grace
and your hope.
It’s in the wonderful,
Holy
And powerful name of Jesus,
Amen.