March 31 – Rest

So, how’s it going? Lent? If you have taken on some Lenten discipline, You’re about half-way through it now. How are you feeling about it?
It may be getting hard. The novelty has worn off. If you decided to give up something, maybe you’re really wanting it by now, and resenting the sacrifice, wondering, “Why am I doing this? What’s the point?”
If you took on some discipline, maybe you are feeling tired of it, feeling it crowding your lifestyle, wondering, “Why am I doing this? What’s the point?
I can’t answer those questions, either.
I have a distinct memory from childbirth – it was my second-born. During the pushing phase, I suddenly felt completely overwhelmed, tired, afraid. I told the room, “I need a rest. I want to take a break right now.”
The doctor and nurse looked up and said, “You can’t. It wouldn’t do any good, anyway; you just need to keep going.” Baby’s being born. Can’t stop now.
So, maybe you want to take a rest from Lent. And actually, the truth is, you could. But it wouldn’t do any good.
The Psalms of Ascent, numbers 120 through 134 – may have been sung by worshipers as they made their way up to the temple in Jerusalem – ascending the hill, ascending the steps. I think of them as pilgrimage psalms.
About three-fourths of the way through the series is the one I cherish most:
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore. (Psalm 131)
You may use this psalm in the coming days. It may give needed rest to your soul.
I don’t know why we are doing what we are doing. I don’t understand all the mysteries of life, of God, of Lent. But maybe we are doing it because something needs to be born within us.

Comments

  1. janegMarch 31, 2019 at 3:55 PM

    I think that must be the reason. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MaggieApril 4, 2019 at 3:32 PM

      You are welcome. :) Thank you for reading.

      Delete

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