Usually, we think of Lent as a journey. It is preceded by Jesus’ Transfiguration on a mountaintop and continues over the weeks as we move toward Jerusalem, join a parade, and stop by the quiet of a garden before we reach the hill of Golgotha. Such an approach could leave us breathlessly on the move and dizzy from the experiences. How do you ground yourself in that manner?

What if we pause and consider Lent not in the context of a journey, but through the places where we find ourselves in life? Think of a map.

Of all the liturgical seasons, Lent is the one that covers the breadth of places where we live a considerable portion of our lives. We might be banished in a wilderness of temptations, revel in mountaintops of shining brilliance, or exile ourselves far from home. Scripture speaks to all of these physical places and even the place we call home.

Lent also speaks to our willingness to reside near to God’s heart or to wander away by serving our own desires. We might never leave home but when we swing between living devoted to God and one another or behaving like a petulant child, we create vastly different day-to-day experiences, for ourselves and others. What kind of a place do we construct? What about that place we find ourselves when we discover the god we serve is actually not the God revealed in Jesus?
Lastly, Lent includes that place where we encounter the depth of suffering at some time in life. Plunged into such a fragile existence, the physical place does not matter since it feels like a prison.

Lent reveals to us that no matter where we find ourselves, including death, God can find us and any place can be a place of resurrection. No matter where we are, because of Jesus, we realize that God finds us and more importantly, we can find God.

Inspired by the framework created by Barn Geese Worship – a group of creative, young theologians – this Lent we will firmly plant ourselves to God through the cross of Christ.

The cross is a place where no one expected to find God at work and yet, it remains the place God’s love is most deeply displayed. Whenever we see the cross, we feel accepted and loved by God. When we see the cross, we remember no matter where we go, we always belong to God.

In Christ,

Jo Forrest