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I was thirteen years old when I first got glasses.  I remember the day vividly, because it was the first day I remember seeing vividly.  My glasses were round, their shape was called tortoise shell (think John Lennon or Harry Potter, only way cooler).  When we drove home from the optometrist I turned to my mom and with wonder said, “I never knew we were supposed to see the actual leaves on the trees!”  Up to that point, trees were simply a big blur to me.  My glasses opened up a new world because they gave me focus.  

Lent is about focus.  Or perhaps more accurately, Lent is about a refocus.  Refocusing on what really matters to us as Christians: our union with Christ.  

Would you agree that we sometimes loose focus?  Or that from time to time our focus is fixed on things that don’t really matter?  I see it in my own life.  Sometimes life takes off and my world becomes a great big blur, like the trees of my youth.  Do you ever feel the same?  

Lent is a special occasion for followers of Jesus of all stripes from all around the world refocus together for 40 days.  We’ve been doing it for over 1500 years!  One way people step into this time of refocussing is by giving something up and by adding something new.  They give up things like coffee, or television, or Facebook.  And they fill their life with something else, such as Scripture reading, or fasting, or a new rhythm of prayer.  

Jesus said, “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”  Sometimes in order for something to grow something else needs to die.  Lent helps us with that so we might grow into the fullness of life in Christ.   

Will you join me in the journey?  Beginning Wednesday February 10th to Thursday March 24th let us refocus on Christ together.  You may already have an idea of how you want to step into this season.  That’s wonderful!  For those who don’t, let me recommend a wonderful resource called “The Lent Project.”  It is an online 40-day journey with music, art, scripture, and reflection - it is wonderful.  

May the Spirit of Jesus refresh and refocus you this Lenten season.