Clay in the Hands

Yesterday, we began a discussion on the meaning of Fat Tuesday and Lent.

Today, in some of my readings, I ran across a very insightful statement about Lent.

Ruth Haley Barton is a recognized author and spiritual director.  In her blog post for today, she said that the most common question asked at Lent is a question of what one is giving up.  However, there is a better question.  Here is what she said:

The real question of the Lenten season is: How will I repent and return to God with all my heart? This begs an even deeper question: Where in my life have I gotten away from God and what are the disciplines that will enable me to find my way back?

This should be our focus as we enter into this season of Lent.  It should be a time of self-examination and a time of repentance.  We must focus on the cross event and the sacrifice Jesus made for us and in light of that sacrifice, we should turn inward to look at where in our lives we have moved our attention away from God and to other things.

Lent is a season to return.  Return to God.  Return to a life lived for Jesus.

Today, God is saying, “I am here – come back to me!”

How will you return to Jesus?