or otherwise titled “me and my crappy Lent”
Well, I’m sitting here, early on a Monday morning, looking longingly at the week ahead and wishing I had prepared more. And also wishing I hadn’t been deathly sick for a week. Nothing ruins a good Lenten season like illness. My baby’s birthday is this week and I leave for Blissdom in a few days. I need to finish some writing before then and I’m hoping to be well enough to really enjoy myself. We’ve had a solid two weeks of family illness, which means we’ve missed church, and sleep, and other normalizing activities, like seeing the light of day. I haven’t been sleeping well, so in general, I’ve been in a weird sickness/lack of sleep fog.
Good times, I tell you.
All that to say, all the hopes and dreams I had at the beginning of Lent have circled the drain.
I haven’t reached any of my ‘goals’.
But, isn’t our failure the perfect place to start?
It leaves us empty, even despairing.
It leaves us hanging on by a thread for Easter, for resurrection, for renewal—for someone to save us from this mess we’ve made.
It leaves us needing Him, more than ever.
In that way, we’re no different than our friends in Uganda. We, too, are desperate for water—the clean, living Water, that washes us and makes us whole.
The Water that makes it possible to never thirst again.
If you haven’t yet participated in the 40 Days of Water, it’s never too late. In the last two weeks left of Lent, join me in donating the money you would have spent on buying drinks out to build a well for the good folks in Uganda. I can’t think of a better metaphor for Christ’s saving work than to give clean water to those in need. We, who have been drowned by the saving waters of Baptism to walk in new life, can make it possible for others to share in His love, in His life-giving fountain.
Clean water is a great place to start.
Lira, Uganda from Blood:Water Mission on Vimeo.
And for those of you, like me, who can never seem to get Lent right, rejoice! We trust in Christ, who made the perfect Lenten journey in our place.
Find comfort in Isaiah…..
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined.
And in Mumford……
Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I’ll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mindSo tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
***********************
Would you mind to take the time to visit the 40 Days of Water facebook page!
Thank you and Bless you Dear Edie. This is just the remindeI needed today, and a balm to my soul.
So glad you’re feeling better! Hope that you have a great time at Blissdom….and feel well enough to enjoy it! Love doing the 40 Days of water with you. The first few were really hard without my coke! Getting used to it now….can’t believe I said that! Enjoy your day!
Oh! Edie-with everything that has happened recently I feel like a total failure at not only Lent but life. I can completely see my need for a my Saviol to save me from my wretched mess.
I hope you are feeling better soon and able to sleep, so you can renew your strength. Not much sleep here, either. Hoping you have a wonderful time at Blissdom. Wish I could be there.
Hugs :))
This winter has literally left me feeling like I have been trapped in a fog for months on end…Our failure is indeed a good place to start and I am beyond grateful that I have a Savior that offers renewal and Spring time blossoms to lift our spirits. Bless you Edie, feel better soon!!
Wonderful insight! I hope you’re feeling better quickly!
Thank you Edie!
Thank you for the encouragement. Sometimes I get so caught up in my “not done list” that I forget He’s completed the work. It’s done. I’m so thankful for His provision for my soul. I pray you’ll rebound soon and get all your birthday plans done before Blissdom. Happy Monday!
And, from my Lenten study: “Setbacks are friends to faith. The difficulties we have in maintaining our discipline remind us – or teach us – that even in our efforts to do good, we need God..” ~ A Clearing Season, by Sarah Parsons
Edie, thank you for making us aware of this organization. I am supporting them with money, sharing their facebook page, and adding them to my prayers.
Hope you get very well before Blissdom. It takes awhile; I know. Lent has just about passed us by this season. So I have laid that thought aside and decided to focus on Holy Week celebrations. Other than reading the scriptures each day with my family; we’ll have a passover meal on Thursday. We have often done this in the past and it has been been meaningful for us especially when we were overseas in Asia.
Yes dear friend. I am rigth there with you and you are so so right: Failure is the perfect time to start. Thanks for pointing us in the right direction!! It is so easy just to stop in that failure and drown.
I completely relate to this post!! I failed at every single thing I set out to do for Lent too. This morning, I forced myself to shift my focus from that failure, to the week I still have, and to focus on Jesus. This post really encouraged my heart and I felt glad I wasn’t alone. Thanks Edie!
These words:
“But, isn’t our failure the perfect place to start?
It leaves us empty, even despairing.
It leaves us hanging on by a thread for Easter, for resurrection, for renewal –
for someone to save us from this mess we’ve made.
It leaves us needing Him, more than ever.”
Oh my….I needed them so. I thank you so much for sharing them. I hope it’s okay for me to share them as well….on Good Friday….on my blog.
I’m praising God for leading me to your blog today.
PS. Happy Birthday to your baby girl!