[Magdalen] A Different Kind of Lent

[James Handsfield]

A different kind of Lent

A reflection by Jim Handsfield

 

Before Lent started, I, like so many others, thought about my Lenten discipline.  After an EfM discussion of systematic theology, I decided that’s what I would give up.  One way or another we made our plans.

SARS-CoV-2 had other ideas.

Who of us dreamt that we would all be giving up close physical contact with one another?  Who dreamt that we would give up church for Lent?  Who dreamt that Easter would find us staying home for our own protection and that of others?  I certainly didn’t.

 But that’s what did happen.  It has been hard in so many ways.  Thank God I’m an introvert!

 I still get out a bit.  I go shopping for groceries and other things I need about once a week.  I get out a couple of times a week to go to meetings when there aren’t too many people in attendance, and we can keep our distance from each other.  Most days I take Petey out for a long walk.

 While this discipline has been more or less forced on me, it is a force for good, particularly the exercise part.  I have time to reflect, to pray, to meditate, and to contemplate (occasionally disrupted by Petey jumping into my lap!).

 One thing I’ve noticed is I’ve been given the grace to keep a good humor about this.  I’m in the high-risk group – diabetic, old, and my doctor tells me all diabetics are heart patients.  A triple whammy!  If I do get infected . . . well, I’ll leave it at that. 

 But life is life, and it goes blithely along not caring what I think about it.  My life is in God’s hands, and I am grateful.  Nothing will befall me that God and I can’t handle together.

God’s blessings on you and yours, and stay safe.



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Education is its own reward, both for the individual and for society.

Jim Handsfield
jhandsfield at att.net