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
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Would you mind to take the time to visit the 40 Days of Water facebook page!