Lent like Advent is a time of preparation, of moving toward the fulfillment of the waiting and longing. We might mark it with pancakes yesterday for Shrove Tuesday. Those within certain faith communities may receive ash today. For many though its just another day with a nagging guilt that we should give something up for the next few weeks, that that might be more attainable than the long forgotten resolutions made at the start of the New Year. For others it passes by unnoticed. Unlike Advent we don’t start to decorate our homes, filling windows and fireplaces with lights, candles and decorations. Excitement and eager anticipation isn’t building up in the young at heart.
Lent, the season in which within the church year we remember Jesus’ time in the desert, we reflect on our own actions. Whereas in Advent we talk of gathering with friends and family, Lent can be a much more solitary season. Just because we don’t come together for the big gatherings in the same way we can find companions for Lent and this year I am going to be reading Ros Clarke’s book ‘Forty Women – Unseen women of the Bible from Eden to Easter’. My companions through this season of reflection, of almost a hibernation, will be the women Ros Clarke brings to my sitting room through this book.
Today there is no surprise, Eve is the first to show up. I was struck by Ros Clarke’s opening comments of how Eve is unlike any other woman as she has known life without sin or without the consequence of sin. I was struck by that because even living all that goodness she took the fruit and ate. How many times have I said ‘it will be easier when this or that is in place’, or ‘I wouldn’t get so angry if my children did what I asked the first time’ and so on. I always think I would not be so tempted when life was smooth sailing. Eve still ate the fruit. In meeting Eve today I realised I cannot keep justifying my actions on other people, circumstances or places. I should not be waiting for them to be without sin or trouble to change my heart and my actions. Eve seemingly had it all and she ate the fruit.
I need to set my heart on God, on what is good, pure and noble so that the fruit I bear reflects the goodness of God and is not directed by what is in front of me. That is not to say there is not a time for righteous anger, justice needed, but what I referred to above is self centered actions. Eve’s story in Genesis does not stop when all is good. She eats the fruit and life spirals rapidly out of hand. Today though I just wanted to reflect on that first thought.
Father, there is good in the world, there is very good. Father as we ask for daily bread, give us eyes to see Your provision. Father as Eve and Adam left the garden You gave them more than fig leaves, You gave them clothing. May we know this Lent You give us more than we can do for ourselves. In Jesus name I pray.
https://www.eden.co.uk/lent-books-for-individuals/forty-women/
Joshua's Tree Rooted 