So, I’ve been working on a few things lately connected to the upcoming Lenten season. The first is today’s post over at IgnatianSpirituality.com called “When Valentine’s Day Meets Ash Wednesday.” It was inspired by my weeklong battle with strep throat to start off this year, something I haven’t had since I was a child!
Here’s an excerpt: “This year, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day coincide: a day about joy, love, and celebration alongside a day about sacrifice, remembering our mortality, and recalling our utter dependence on God. At first glance, this seems paradoxical. However, I think the combination of these two days just might be the perfect way for me to start practicing inviting God into all of my experiences.”
You can check out the full post here.
The second thing I’ve been working on is a series for this Lent called “Leaning into Our Belovedness.” Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday coinciding seemed like the perfect opportunity to do something a little different for this Lenten season ahead – focusing on recognizing and internalizing our belovedness. This series started with a four page insert in the Central and Southern Jesuit Province Winter Magazine, and will continue over at the Province website every Sunday throughout Lent.
I hope you’ll engage with the insert that can be found here and then join me each Sunday for a reflection, a suggestion for prayer, and an audio/video to utilize throughout your week in prayer.
Focusing on our belovedness, on the God who loved us enough to become us, on the God who continues to love us, as we are, no matter what… that might be just the way to make this Lent come alive like never before.
