Within this collection of stories, reflections, and writings, you will find windows into the mystery of God. Members and friends of our parish have written pieces for use as devotionals in this season of Lent. Most all of the works are original, and they range from poems to personal stories to reflections on scripture. Some will evoke tears or laughter, while others may not do much for us at all. The pieces are as unique as the writers, and they may not resonate with everyone, which is fine. But it is my hope that with each daily entry we will all find some way to connect with God.


My thanks to those who contributed to this project. It takes courage to offer something publicly as we have done with this collection. I know that some of you have gone well outside your comfort zone to reflect spiritually on parts of your life or to share ideas that you have treasured for yourself. I also want to thank Tiffany Ayers who used her skills as an editor to put this collection together and catch all of our typos and literary bobbles.


I pray that each of us would find this Lenten Season a holy and special time.


In Christ’s Peace,

Fr. Tom+

Sunday, March 7, 2010

March 7

Food, Food, Food

Every year around Easter, the ideas roll through my mind of what to give up for the six weeks of Lent. Will it be McDonalds? A classic choice. Chocolate? That’s maybe a bit too difficult and possibly overdoing it. Eating ice cream after dinner? Well, I don’t eat it often enough for it to be a considerable option, so it can stay.

Fast food, French fries, sweets – food, food, food. I have noticed that some type of food has been the most common sacrifice that we make during Lent. I wonder if food is most common because of the food-obsessed country we live in, or something more. Maybe it’s because food is something we see around us all day, every day. That makes the challenge more difficult and thus a more significant sacrifice.

One year, one of my close friends decided to not eat sweets for the six weeks until Easter. This included no cake on birthdays or cookies and juice after our school project presentations. She was hard-core about Lent, and my friends and I all admired her.

Letting go of our favorite coffee drink or fast food cheeseburger could be seen as the easier option. To remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we give up something we love and will truly miss.

Why is it that we don’t give up something more than food? The sweets and fast food we eat are a luxury. Why don’t we give up something we feel we need? What do we need that we can’t live without for six weeks?

Anna Clayton
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