STAFF
OUR PASTOR: Rev. Katie Van Der Linden
After the Fanfare!
The 40 days of Lent is now over. Whether you gave something up or took something on, it is now your choice to continue in your new ways or go back to your old. It is your choice. Why did you change for these 40 days? Were you challenged at the Ash Wednesday service to make a change and promise that by nailing it to the cross in the front of the sanctuary? Maybe it is tradition that you give up something that is unhealthy or a bad habit. Will you keep up with it? Are the changes you made just for Lent or is it something that should be changed for the rest of the year as well?
I must admit, I struggled personally. I challenged myself to work on some areas that I feel I could better myself in and I struggled. I was good for about the first two weeks; then I found myself quickly changing back and having to admit that change is a lot harder than I had anticipated. It should be easy, right? We should be able to better ourselves overnight and wake up and be the person we are meant to be. It just is not that simple. Habits do not start overnight and do not change overnight; it takes work.
This is why the 40 days is so nice. It offers time to really look at ourselves and be challenged by what needs changing. It also allows us the time to work at it even when we fail. We are always invited try again. It is so easy to get discouraged, especially when we want change so badly. It is not easy, but it is worth it.
I hope you have found these forty days to be helpful. I hope that you have had the opportunity to change something in your life (take on or give up) and that it is not just for this time, but a change for the better for all the time. Christ looks to us to always be improving ourselves and gives us the love and time to do it. So keep it up. Keep challenging yourself to make improvements for the better. Give up the things that we need to. Moderation is a good key to life. And remember that God's promise was not fulfilled only in 40 days, but it fulfilled each and every new day. Enjoy the promise of today and keep up on those Lenten promises.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Katie
