The Length of Lent

If you were to Google the family tree for the word “Lent”, you would discover that a distant relative of “Lent” is “long”. Lent is the 40-day long stretch between Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, excluding Sundays because each Sunday is a mini-Easter Sunday.

The days can be long during Lent for anyone fasting from something you love. The days can be long yet the weeks can still go fast. You have heard that saying elsewhere; I first heard it as a Bible Camp counselor. The days were long because they were so full. And the weeks went fast.

Your day might be long for any number of reasons. It might be a long day because it is so full or so empty. The day could be long because you are waiting for someone to contact you or waiting for your body to heal.

Long days are not to be wished away. A day is a unique gift – a limited resource. There are only so many and no two are the same. Lent instructs you to lengthen the day to truly see it. Lent is the caution sign on the side of the road to slow you down so that you pay attention.

Try one of these Lenten practices to make your day long enough for you to pay attention.

• When you talk to someone, notice the color of the person’s eyes. Remember that person, like you, has seen the world through a particular lens shaped by their own experiences. That person, like you, is a beloved child of God.
• During a meal, notice the individual flavors in whatever you are eating. Can you taste a specific herb? Can you describe to yourself the texture? How many people did it take from start to finish for this food to be on your plate?
• Take three slow, deep breaths.
• If you are reading a book, slow down. Savor the words on the page. What a miracle it is to have the ability to read.
• Set a timer for one minute and sit still. Let your muscles relax, your face included. Notice Jesus sitting beside you.

We are at the start of the 40-day long stretch of Lent. The days are long and yet the weeks go fast. Let Lent teach you something new, that has been there all along.

Photo by Matthew Alexander on Unsplash