Our choices in life matter. 

Their consequences shape our lives and the lives of others forever.

During Lent, we are asked to reflect on our choices. 

In almost every moment of our lives, we make choices that lead to life or death.

Choosing life, choosing joy, involves intention and awareness.

No matter where we are on the path, no matter what consequences we live with – we have the opportunity to once again choose life.

Adapted from Trevor Hudson Pauses for Lent

The Christian must not only accept suffering; he must make it holy. Nothing so easily becomes unholy as suffering.

Thomas Merton

The God of curved space, the dry

God, is not going to help us, but the son

whose blood splattered

the hem of his mothers robe.

Jane Kenyon

Life is about choices.

Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Choose life.

Choose joy.

Choose kindness.

We live stitch by stitch, when we’re lucky. 

From: Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair

By Anne Lamott

Start where you are. Pema Chodron

Return to God through:

The smile of a stranger 

The presence of a friend

The beauty of nature 

The sound of the rain

All of these experiences deepen your awareness of God.

From Anne Lamont’s book: Stitches

Opening thought:

I don’t know Who – or what – put the question. I don’t know when it was put. I don’t even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer Yes to Someone – or Something – and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, in my life, in self-surrender, has a goal.

Dag Hammarsjold, Markings

We repeatedly drift away from our true self and our true home. As we drift, we forget that we are God’s beloved.

During this 40 days of Lent, God invites us from this drifting, God invites us home to remember who we are. 

Let us open our hearts and our minds – may we pause, listen, and respond to this invitation to return again to God and to ourselves.