2026's Lenten Journey

Today is Ash Wednesday or the beginning of Lent for 2026. The time between Ash Wednesday and Easter or Resurrection is frequently called the Lenten journey. It is the personal and inner journey toward a more Christ-like living. Perhaps we could make this journey more profitable in addition to giving something up for Lent, if we were to add something for Resurrection or First Fruits as I Corinthians 15:20 teaches about our resurrection after death. It would be healthy if we gave up sweets, carbs, etc. or at least reduced our intake as most Physicians recommend. It would also be spiritually healthy if we began a morning of quiet times. If we already have a quiet time, perhaps we might add 15 minutes. Maybe we would be moved to begin a spiritual journal which asks the questions (1) how did I experience God’s presence during this day and (2) how have I experienced and expressed thankfulness this day? We could also begin to prayerfully read the Psalms or the Gospel of John during our Lenten journey. My pray is we open ourselves to what God might choose to do with us during this Lenten journey of 2026.

The Effortfulness Flow of Divine Creativity

I have recently learned a new word or concept, “lila” (leela). This is a Sanskrit word/concept that means the Divine acts of creation, from the first creation as well as the on-going acts of creation, are joyful, playful, effortfulness, dancing, peaceful, non-competitive sporting, etc. of the Divine. When I’m working too hard and/or too concerned about how something “should” happen, I may be getting in the way of 'lila' and out of the effortfulness flow of Divine creativity of which I am only a conduit, not its creator. Often I make ‘stuff’ harder than it needs to be.