A hint of Lent

Red skies at night … a writer’s delight.

The vibrant red, orange, and pink colors shone in the western sky as God used His paintbrush to create such radiant beauty that even social media lit up with pictures. It was sunset on Friday evening.

My mind and heart needed to see it. The chaos of recent days and its loudness made me weary. I needed to be reminded that God still creates beautiful things in a world where the uglies abound.

I’ve been avoiding TV news and social media. Instead, I watch college basketball and golf with Chuck and look at recipes I’ll never make.

I’ve been preparing for Lent. Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It’s a sacred moment when the ashes are placed on my forehead, and John 3:16 becomes real. There will be tears.

I grew up in the church, but we never observed Lent. I was introduced to Lent when I married Chuck. For the first few years, I gave up certain things. One year, it was whining. I’ll never do that again.

This year, I am spending time in the scriptures – intentionally, daily, leaning into, and embracing the scriptures where Jesus tells me how to live my life. This is a way to nurture my soul. Every day, I will end my time with Jesus with a prayer of thanksgiving. You might read this again and see that I have used the letters L-E-N-T to create a way of observing Lent.

I will begin my day by asking Alexa to play piano Easter hymns. Then, I will light my taper candle and read scriptures from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Oh, the love that Jesus teaches in the Gospels.

St. Francis wrote the most beautiful prayer when he said, Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. I pray the words I write and how I live my life are just that.

I’ve written a prayer for Lent …

Lord,

Where there is shouting, let me be soft-spoken.

Where there is discourse, let me be peaceful.

Where there is hate, let me show love.

Where there are untruths, let me seek the truth.

Where there is anger, let me show mercy.

Where there is hurt, let me be a balm.

Where there is discouragement, let me give hope.

Where there is confusion, let me have clarity.

Where there is loneliness, let me be a friend.

Even though I was barefoot on Friday evening, I stepped outside our front door to capture a picture of the sunset God painted. God is still creating beautiful things in a world with so much ugliness. It is my choice which to see and what I allow to capture in my heart.

Friday night was a hint of what I hope to see during Lent.

Please, Lord, let me be a woman of Faith who seeks to show and tell of your love. Thank you for the red sky Friday night. For this writer … it was a delight.

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Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.