breathe

 Take a moment and breathe. Whatever you do today, find a place to pause, to draw breath, to know that in this moment you're alive and full of the Spirit of the Living God.

Lent's rush can seem a heavy burden to bear for many, whether church staff, members, or even those exploring the life of faith. Of course, this cross that we bear is but a small burden compared to the cross borne by Jesus and the journey Christ walked toward that cross. 

Even so, Lent means to create space for resurrection within us. Fasting, prayer, devotional reading, scriptural engagement, meditation, service, acts of kindness, advocacy for justice, and many other Lenten practices help us to find that resurrection space. 

But just as the dust needed the breath of God to become a living human being in Genesis 2, so too we must take time to breathe in Lent. We must recognize that we walk the paths of Lent as those already given the gift of the Holy Spirit. We seek new life as those who've already receive the Spirit's downpayment on that new life. 

So, as the weight of the season bears down further upon you, take a breath. Breathe in the life of God and breathe out the things that try to choke that life out of you. 

Breathe today, for the journey of Lent is not yet over. We need breath for this journey, and the Spirit remains, ready to resuscitate us into the resurrection life we seek.