We are in the most unusual form of Lent

We are in the most unusual form of Lent I have ever experienced – and it’s not a time to be giving up chocolate!
For many folk 'Lent' is a strange annual event where people give up chocolate before the Easter Bunny turns up with a load of chocolate eggs.

Lent is part of the christian tradition, a period of 40 days leading up to Easter Week, where we celebrate the last week of the life of Jesus Christ, his arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial followed by the climax of his resurection from death that preceeded the birth of the Church.

Why 40 days? It is the time that Jesus spent in 'social isolation' in the desert before starting his ministry on earth. It was a time of prayer, seeking His Father - God, in preparation for the work he was about to start. 

Traditionally Christians use the 40 days to give up something - chocoalte or alcohol or some pleasure or other - in order to reflect and pray about thier own lives and how they are following Jesus. 

I never expected to be giving up going to Church! And many more things beside. 

It is not easy to live through such times. There are mornings when I wake up and I think I am losing my mind (some think I lost it years ago but that’s another story!). I feel a strangeness, a sadness, a confusion and a loss of something I can’t quite name, and a fear that I no longer know what ‘normal’ is or what it will be. And I know I’m not the only one. 

Over the last week I have spent some time reading, thinking and praying about the situation we find ourselves in. 

The arrest of Jesus: Peter fights back in anger

Some have described it as a form of grief, a loss of all kinds of things all rolled into one. The loss of freedom, the loss of connectedness, the loss of work, of life-giving hobbies, of seeing families and friends, a loss of community. And in its place is a sense, a fear, that we don’t even know what our lives will look like when its over, if it ever will be truly over. 

Some have said that it is not surprising if we feel we are losing our sanity. The reactions we have are quite normal and will be different for each of us. Just like bereavement. And when you are grieving a loss of any sort you need to be gentle with yourself, not expect too much. The elements of grief will come at us at different times and different ways with no particular reason or sequence, again and again. Those of you who have been through this before will recognise the signs. And it is different for each of us.

What hope is there in this? I wonder about the way in which the disciples of Jesus experienced that space between the crucifixion of Jesus and their encounter with the risen Christ. A liminal space with all the elements of grief, and the fear of being hunted down and imprisoned, or worst. From our perspective in history we see the outcome; the resurrection bringing hope, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church heralding a new era filled with all kinds of challenges and opportunities. Its strange to think how the Church, in its various forms and formats today, has progressed from that small gathering of frightened men and women. I wonder if they could ever have envisioned it.

There is no doubt that much of our 'Pre-corona' lives will be lost - many shops will cease trading, many will lose thier jobs, and the shopping habits of people will change. However jobs will be created as new ways of retail are develped as the trend towards online retail is accelerated by this crisis. Already new jobs are being created and when our society emerges there will be more opportunities. 

Perhaps we will see a greater desire for physical meeting spaces, like cafes, and activities that enable social interaction, and spaces that facilitate our communities to grow and flourish. 

It is uncertain as to what society will look like but there will always be a need for community spaces and places where people can come together. There will always be a need for those that serve the needs of others. There is hope. There are new opportunities waiting in the wings. 

What can we do now? Some are already doing it - helping in whatever way they can to serve the

needs of our community.

Some us just need to 'stay in our homes' until the 'all clear' is sounded. Then comes the job of rebuilding a new society out of the remenants and rubble of the old. It might not look a lot different but how we live will not be unaffected. 

I encourage you to pray, to seek the Creator God, to reflect upon your life and think about what you will do in the future that is coming. It could be that this will lead to new adventures that will radically reshape your life. What will make the difference is how you position yourself mentally, spiritually and emotionally and that is, in part, the purpose of Lent. 

I realise that these thoughts of mine are utterly inadequate but they are what I have. For those who lose loved ones my heart goes out to you and I pray for your peace. For all, I hope and pray that you are able to stay safe, stay well and sane! I know many are worried and afraid about their job, families and businesses.  My hope and prayer is that we all make it through this and flourish in ways we can't imagine.

Every blessing be yours

Tim