Have you ever wondered why there is such a focus on reflection during the season of Lent? That is a great question to ask now since we are at the beginning of Lent. But before I get to the answer, I want to share an experience I had that helped me reflect on reflection.

A couple months ago Nancy and I purchased a newer vehicle for Nancy to drive. This vehicle is only 2 years old and has only 9,000 miles on it. No, it wasn’t originally owned by a little old lady who only drove it to church. It’s a long story; I won’t go into it. Anyway, because it is a newer vehicle it makes use of a LOT of technology. That means there are a lot more lights, sounds, and messages that it shows to help the driver know what the car needs.

So, just the other day Nancy came home from work and told me her car is telling her it needs air in the tires. Since I try to maintain the vehicles, I went out to the garage, got the air compressor and pressure gauge, and put the required amount of air in the tires. A while back Nancy asked what a certain symbol meant on her car display. I wasn’t sure so I looked it up in the manual. Once again it was simply telling me something that needed a little attention. So, I took care of it. Convenient, right??!! Well, yes, it is!

More and more, the vehicles we drive and even devices we use in our homes, are able to monitor themselves and tell us humans when attention is needed. Thus, we don’t have to pay attention. We simply respond when prompted. We only need to respond to the messages that we receive from the vehicle. Unfortunately, this trait also can develop in other areas of our life too, such as our spiritual life or how we follow Jesus.

At least for myself, I won’t speak for others, but sometimes I have the habit, or at least the potential, to not pay a significant amount of attention to my spiritual life. At times I figure, kind of like with our newer vehicles, if God wants my attention God will send a message. However, God doesn’t usually send a flashing light, a beep or a buzz, or a printed message right in front of my eyes to get my attention. No, God’s messages to us, his children and followers of today, are often more subtle.

I believe God tends to whisper more than shout. God chooses to be patient rather than obnoxious and annoying. God often speaks to us through scripture, which is why reading the Bible is so important. God often speaks through impressions and nudges that we might sense during prayer. God might speak through a trusted friend or mentor. God might speak through creation. God might speak through a word or message one receives in their heart or hear in their mind. There are so many ways in our world that God might choose to speak, but to receive those messages we need to be willing to be receptive. In other words, we have to pay attention. And that often comes through reflection and asking oneself deeper questions. Questions like;

Where have I sensed a flicker of God’s presence today? - What am I feeling right now?
What am I hoping for from God in this moment? - Where do I sense an inner yearning?
What is giving me life? - What is draining me of life?
What is God inviting me into next? - What ordinary moment today might actually have been Holy?
What conversation, interruption, or inconvenience might God be using?
What might it look like to “take up my cross” in this moment?

These are just some examples of questions to ask. You might also talk to Pastor Amber, one of her specialties is that of Spiritual Direction.

As we begin our journey through Lent, may we decide to be intentional about being open to the nudges of God and not simply wait for an alarm or a message that says, “It’s time to pray,” etc. You see, reflection often begins an important inner spiritual process;

Reflection has the power to awaken us.

Awakening leads to honest confession,

Confession opens the door to repentance,

And Repentance makes space for new, faith-filled direction in life.

The reason reflection matters is because it creates space – space in our hearts and minds as we slow down. If we never pause to reflect, we may miss the quiet work God is already doing within us. So, maybe this Lent is simply an invitation to grow…by going slow.

Pastor Keith