Lent is coming!

Lent is one of the retreat spaces in the liturgical year. A time to reflect, nurture our internal selves, and pause.

Traditionally, it has been a time of fasting. You might have heard of it as people “give up” chocolate. A dear non-smoking, tee-totalling friend used to joke each year that she was going to give up cigarettes and alcohol.

It has become helpful to us to not make major decisions during Lent. That has been a fast that has brought great spiritual fruit.

We also pray the prayer of Ephrem (a 4th century Syrian Orthodox believer) each day in Lent. The most popular title for Ephrem is “the Harp of the Spirit.” He loved to write hymns and his prayer may help our spirits, our lives, to sing!

O Lord and Master of my life
remove from me the spirit of sadness,
despair, thirst for power and vain talk.

Instead, grant me, Your servant,
the spirit of prudence, humility,
patience and love

Indeed, O Lord and King,
grant that I see my own sins
and not judge my sister or my brother,
for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen

Through Lent this year, we’ll be providing a “Lenten Retreat in Daily Living” over in our Patreon Faith at Home community (https://www.patreon.com/FaithatHome). Each week there will be a video available for everyone and additional resources for subscribers. We’ll press pause on stress for a few minutes and soak in a retreat.

So you are invited to take a Lenten Journey this year. And if we can be your companions on that journey, we would be so grateful!