As we do in every year, we make changes. This is nothing new. Change is a part of daily life. There is no “normal.” We live in the present and deal with what is happening today. I received an offer from the Lord to change my journey.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.” [Jeremiah 17:7*]

I walked into my Lighthouse on Sunday morning to find a table inside the door filled with the Little Black Book for Lent by Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw. My husband and I each took one. Before the Mass began, I read the meditation for Sunday. The official start of Lent is on Wednesday, but today the Little Black Book for Lent asked me to write my Lenten Plans. I cannot foresee my future, not even for tomorrow. But do I give up? No I do not. This time, I slowed down and talked to my Lord first. What do I give up and what fills the void? I asked.

According to my little book, Lent is a journey. A journey, you say? Well, you and I know about adventure journeys? Are you ready for a Lenten adventure? After the turmoil and grief of 2020, I know I’m ready. After my meditation, I wrote three things:

• Observe the fasting days.
  • Because of my tailor-made diet, I have a dispensation from fasting. And I have used it for years. Yes, I fasted other things like sugar, internet, television, etc. But it is not the same as being called to a fast.
  • I am working on ways I can forgo meat and still not cause a major blood sugar spike by paying attention to what I eat and to my Lord.
• Continue to study “rest.”
  • Rest defined as, “The act or state of ceasing from work, activity, or motion: QUIET**”
  • Right now God has me finding out what He has to say about rest.
• And, write daily.

Looking at the list later, I thought, I’m not giving up anything. Isn’t that what I am supposed to do? No answer came right away. Later while writing this post, I discovered what the Lord is asking me to “give up” for Lent:

Distractions, the things that stop me from hearing His Voice. The things that take my eyes off the King.

I spent the last year dealing with the distractions of shock, hurt, fear, and grief. I didn’t mean to fall to the spirit of fear blanketing our world. My writing faltered as I reacted and wrote less. My connection to God was difficult, making it hard to write. I hate to admit this but, since the beginning of February, I have only worked on the novel I’m editing once.

The realization of His Love for me has my soul soaring. He wants us back. I feel this down to my core. There is a change in the air around me. I am pushing back on the distractions and returning to Him. It has been a year since I felt this kind of optimism. While all is dark in the world, I turned back to my Light, Jesus my savior. My hope has nothing to do with the world around me because my hope is in the Lord.

I’m not sure how this will work. Like all journeys, I will probably stumble in the next 42 days. He is there to pick me up, dust me off, and set my feet upon the path. The vision He gave me is writing a post at least once a week and finish the edits on that draft novel.

Yes, these are short-term goals. That is all I can handle right now, a day by day Lenten walk with My Lord and Savior. Any more than that is in His Hands.

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

² He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

³ He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.

[Psalm 40:1-3*]

Dear Heavenly Father, may your Words be a soothing balm to those you touch today. As we turn our minds away from the distractions and darkness of the world to drink in your light, fill us with your Spirit. Pull us out of the pit of depression and grief. Free us from the clay of fear and hurt. Set our feet on a rock and establish our steps in your adventure journey. Place a new song in our mouths so many will find their trust in You. Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings. In Jesus’ name, amen. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

May your day be filled with Peace,

Milly.

*Scriptures are from the New King James Version.

**The definition of “Rest” is from the Webster’s II New College Dictionary Third Edition.