O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. _x000D_ Let me find you again. Amen.
Interpretation
This quote expresses a desire for spiritual renewal and a deeper connection with God during Lent.
Henri Nouwen's quote reflects a profound yearning for a transformative experience during the Lenten season, a time traditionally associated with reflection, repentance, and spiritual growth. The plea to find God again signifies a longing for a revitalized faith and a deeper understanding of oneβs spiritual path, highlighting the importance of making this period meaningful and distinct from previous experiences.
In practice
During a church service focused on Lenten themes.
The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. God loves us, not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love.
The immense joy in welcoming back the lost son hides in the immense sorrow that has gone before....our brokenness may appear beautiful, but our brokenness has no other beauty but the beauty that comes from the compassion that surrounds it.
Suffering invites us to place our hurts in larger hands. In Christ we see God suffering β for us. And calling us to share in Godβs suffering love for a hurting world. The small and even overpowering pains of our lives are intimately connected with the greater pains of Christ. Our daily sorrows are anchored in a greater sorrow and therefore a larger hope.
To listen is very hard, because it asks of us so much interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves by speeches, arguments, statements or declarations. True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known. They are free to receive, welcome, to accept.
Waiting is a dry desert between where we are and where we want to be. (Finding My Way Home)
Becoming the beloved is pulling the truth revealed to me from above down into the ordinariness of what I am, in fact, thinking of, talking about and doing from hour to hour.
He chose to honor us with His priesthood. So we honor Him by honoring His priesthood - both its power and those who bear it.
Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don't say, "I will endure this until I can get away and pray." Pray now - draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God's grace through prayer.
Prayer is a friendly conversation with the One we know loves us.
Often the work of the Lord itself may be a temptation to keep us from that communion with Him which is so essential to the benefit of our own souls.
Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven, but getting God's will done on earth. It is not overcoming God's reluctance but laying hold of God's willingness.
Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it.
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