The gift of space

I wonder what gift Lent might have for us this year? We sometimes think of Lent as a lean time - a time to give up things. Sometimes we see it as a time for serious commitment, a time to do more - do more things for God.

But what if the gift of Lent was just space. Space for us.
Space for us and God.

I have a sense that if we want to receive more of what God has for us, that might begin just with space - space to be, space to be here.

Here’s a poem by Andrew Rudd:

I am not there.
I am not then.
I am nowhere else
but here.

I am not them.
I am not you.
I am myself.

I rest from doing
need not achieve.
I do not ask
I do not need.
This is the place 
for me to be.

Here I am.

I wonder if there is an invitation there for us?

When we think about Jesus going into the wilderness after his baptism, we often focus on the temptations. But maybe he felt the same invitation.

Si Smith pictures Jesus leaving home to go into the wilderness like this - the words are by Chris Goan:

In a room scented by the smell of sawn timber, a man hears a voice in his inner ear calling him

it is time -
your time, and mine

enough of the mending and making and shaping of wood

time to put aside the tools

the sharp nails...

While the village still slept, he set his face to the low morning light and followed this beautiful voice 

calling him 

leading him 

drawing him 

into wilderness.

He did not look back to the comforts of home, but walked on ...
 
into the desert - the place of suffering and desolation, where each rock hid its own danger every stone could strike at the heel 

he walked onwards 

alone.

As he walked he left something of himself behind

the skin of civilisation was being burnt away by the hot sun

driven away by the wild animals

but in the rhythm of every step was the music of this voice - singing to his soul

it's your time ... and mine.

I wonder whether we recognise that voice, calling us, inviting us? If we really listen, can we hear it singing in our soul? 

What might that voice invite us to let go of, for a while? 

What might we walk away from?

Where is the wilderness space waiting for us?

Can we hear the invitation - ‘This is your time, and mine’. 

Spend a few moments being open to God’s call.

Begin by being here - 
-	here, with your feet on the floor, feeling the chair beneath you…
-	being aware of your breathing, letting it slow, feeling each breath bringing you life
-	opening your hands, ready to receive, letting go of everything except this moment
-	feeling the flow of God’s Spirit from deep within

Loving God, call us, invite us, lead us on our journey through Lent…
give us grace to let go, and grace to receive
give us the gift of space, of time
time for ourselves
time for you.