Dear Parishioners,
I heard an interview recently with a man who wrote a book on gratitude. He wasn’t religious, but it got me thinking about Lent and the many gifts of God that I have received.
Lent is a time of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. In all these, God’s abundance has been made clear to me. In fasting, I am thinking about the food we have. Our refrigerator has been adequately stocked. Even in the pandemic, we ate well. Of course, toilet paper was hard to find as were cleaning supplies. We would go to the grocery store real early or real late to avoid others, and we wiped down each item. But we did not starve. I am grateful that I may fast, not out of necessity, but as a matter of my decision to sacrifice to make a space for God in my life.
My prayer life is strong I believe. Over the past year, it has focused on all those who have passed or been sick. The loss of life due to the pandemic is beyond comprehension, but my prayer has been a tool that has helped me to offer up what little I can for the invisible suffering around me. My prayer has also been a comfort and consolation, and in Lent a way to thank God for his goodness.
I am retired and done with the everyday grind of work. My friends however, say that I still work, I am a deacon! But we have been blessed with savings and income to get through these hard times. Our kids all work from home, so they have not been affected financially. We continue to give to the church, organizations, and others in need. I thank God for his generosity to us and know how privileged we are. I ask his blessings on those who are struggling. Lent has a deeper meaning this year it seems. Thank you Lord for your abundant gifts this past year. Help us this Lent to give back to You in sacrifice of our appetites, our wallets, and our time in prayer.
Deacon Steve
