Everything Exposed

When the temperatures start to rise, the question in my house is, ‘are the trails dry enough to ride?’

My husband I love to mountain bike and there are a few trails not far from our house.

This past week we decided to go hike the trails to see if they were dry enough for us to bike.

It’s actually a written and posted rule that you aren’t supposed to ride the trails when they are muddy or if they are wet enough for your bike to leave tracks because it wears the trail.

You see, trails get enough wear from the natural flow of the land, with downed trees and heavy rains causing rushing water to cut new paths.

Every spring, when we take our first ride, we encounter many new tree roots because the earth around them has washed away with the winter snow.

It a natural process…spring emerging from winter.

Lent is like this for me too.

It is a time for me to emerge from winter.

Time to allow time to clear debris and uncover what has been hidden. (ie. get rid of sinful behaviors I’ve accumulated, etc)

Time for me to expose my roots, let go of inhibitions that hold me back from doing the things I am called to do. (ie. be more prophetic in my words and actions, etc.)

Lent is so much like the changing of the seasons between winter and spring.

Moving from the darkness and fighting, pushing and emerging into the light. 

This is what Lent is supposed to be…a time to take inventory and shed the things that weigh you down, this is what the practice of fasting is supposed to help do.

It is a time to cling to Jesus through prayer as to support one another through the struggle because Jesus doesn’t walk the road of Calvary alone…you and I are there too.

And lastly in the beauty of almsgiving, sharing what you have with others.  This is what gives me hope but also satisfies me in the present. 

Strangely knowing that it is all a part of the process. 

Winter in the rearview and the promise of spring ahead. This is the season of Lent!