What I’ll be doing in this season of Lent is taking time to read the daily emails from my Seminary. (Yes, I’m still in Seminary and my Semester Summaries are a bit behind here.) I was asked to contribute towards the 2023 Lenten Devotional and I can’t wait to experience how what I shared will fit in among my peers and faculty who also contributed. If you’d like to check it out, it is here. George W Truett Theological Seminary is offering two options this year: a new daily email format or downloading the full PDF. I am going to go ahead and do both.
In the Christian tradition, we take time to prepare for remembering Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection during a period of time beforehand called “Lent.” Lent starts with “Ash Wednesday” and in 2023, that means Lent begins this week, February 22nd and lasts until April 6th. In the Christian church calendar, the preparation time called Lent leads into “Holy Week” or “Passion Week.” Highlights from my faith tradition growing up emphasized “Good Friday.” But this week starts with “Palm Sunday,” the Sunday before Easter, and includes “Good Friday” but there are meanings for each of the days for Holy Week one could reflect upon. I only realized this several years ago when I attended the Army chapels that had their Religious Service Office’s arrange and advertise opportunities for any and all in our military communities to come together briefly for each day within the Holy Week. I found when I would make efforts to go and participate in these remembrances, I could better appreciate preparing and participating in the journey towards Easter, the next season after Lent in the church calendar.
I know the date I was asked to contribute for so my devotional is somewhere in the middle of Lent. This is exactly how I’ve been feeling in this time of my seminary journey and Chaplaincy ministry for the hospital and hospice. (In the middle, in the wilderness, wandering and wondering sometimes, ‘how long?’) Yes, it’s been quite a journey for me over here for different reasons! I’m not sure how you find yourself in this season today as you read this, but this is an invitation for you to join me and to join us by setting aside a little time to meet God where ever and however we find ourselves. I don’t think we need to do anything out of the ordinary, unless you’ve thoughtfully discerned the appropriateness of that for you. Considering what our hopes are and any invitations from the Lord for our time of preparation for Lent seems best. If you’d like to have a little community along the way, join me and us in this time. Feel free to reach out with responses if you’d like to engage and share briefly with each other along the way. I always appreciate that.
I wonder what has been your experience with the season of Lent?
Is it something you grew up knowing about or a season you now choose to intentionally participate in each year?
Here’s the link if you want to join me in participating in Lent each day. https://www.baylor.edu/truett/index.php?id=929962 I’d love for you to connect so we can share thoughts with one another somehow. Also, connection just helps me keep going! I am always thinking about how I can help bring people together. I wholeheartedly believe that there is so much we can gain from one another, especially those different than us, as we look towards God. Do reach out and let me know how you plan to engage in Lent this year, if you are.
Blessings to you as you prepare for this time of meeting with the Lord in this season,
Sejana
Sejana Shines 