Well, we’re halfway through Lent. I’m finally hitting my stride (with lowered expectations of myself). I’ve participated in over 35 Lenten seasons. Each one is different because I am different. I have succeeded some years and failed miserably in others.
Years ago, I gave up my opinion for Lent. When I share this with people, I usually get a giggle or a raised eyebrow. As funny as it seems I was surprised how much mental space was freed up in conversations as I stopped formulating what I would say next. I found myself truly listening to the other.
I tried to give up my opinion again this year … that hasn’t worked too well. Sigh.
I remind myself that my Lenten disciplines are not for God, but for me. They are a means to an end, but not the End itself. The goal is to use these spiritual disciplines to bring me closer to God, remembering His mercy, and experiencing His love.
At this halfway moment I wanted to share a sermon I found years ago while on private retreat in Conyers, GA. The sermon is an encapsulation of a longer piece called “On Loving God” by St. Bernard of Clairvaux. You can read the sermon here.
I encourage you to stop at this Lenten halfway mark and read it reflectively. Let me know what you think. I hope it will bring you the same comfort I found when I read it for the first time.
As always, I wish you peace.
~ lisa
p.s. The original piece can be found in this archive. It is spiritually rich, but thick and translated from French. https://archive.org/details/on-loving-god-by-saint-bernard-of-clairvaux