Post Lent

After much anticipation, the promise of resurrection has been fulfilled. This past Sunday was Easter Sunday – my favorite day of the year. It was with great joy that I was able to say, "Christ has risen," and to have others respond with, "He is risen, INDEED!" Subsequently the church calendar has moved from the season of Lent to the 50 day season of Easter - which will take us to Pentecost Sunday. I've exchanged my copy of The Little Black Book for an Easter booklet which is entitled, The Little White Book.
In the exchange, there is a constant - certain Lenten practices, cultivated and kept with intentionality, have become habitual characteristics of how I desire to live my life post Lent. Having given up isolation as my Lent intent, it gradually dawned on me that community could be found in the most unexpected places. As this reality came into clearer focus, an attitude of gratitude has been cultivated. I approach the turning seasons with a celebratory spirit, a grateful heart and a firm resolve to stay in community.

Since my last post, there's been precious little time for me to just “be.” Yet, as seasons come and seasons go, that's alright. The awareness of rhythms has been instilled in my heart and by simply taking the time to reflect with this blog post, I see that it is all good.
I hope to gently press into this next season with a sense of doing a sacred dance – gracing myself with the reality that one step forward occasionally follows with two steps back. The weather pattern of the past week gives a reminder of this – lest I get too far ahead of myself - on Easter Monday it was 75 degrees and nature was bursting forth into full bloom and bud. A cold front early Tuesday morning collided with that warm air bringing in thunder storms and showers. The resulting wind and rain stripped many bushes of their blossoms. This morning the ground was dusted with snow. One step forward – two steps back - suspended animation for the tulips and azaleas. Time out for me.
Right now, I’m grateful for some “being” time – after a busy week of rushing headlong into the next thing. I’m grateful for the turning seasons and the church calendar which gives me a frame of reference for practicing spiritual disciplines. Evidence of simple abundance stirs my heart to thank God for his faithful provision.

Eight weeks have passed since some gave things up for Lent. In previous blogs, I’ve noted that research shows that it takes 21 days to develop (or break) a habit. With that said, faithfulness to our Lent intentions, along with God's grace and support of loving community, made for an encouraging word. Reviewing your Lent intent - As you practiced change - how would you sum up your experience? Did a new habit develop through the discipline? Having given something up during Lent, did you pick it back up again, or do you find that you don’t miss it after all? What have you learned? For what are you grateful today – on this Friday, the first week of Easter, 2010?