In my recent travels I looked out a friends window and saw the majesty of Creation and the distractions of Man. Both are helpful to our daily lives, but like in this picture, I find the fast pace of life and technology to be a real distraction to me.
Our lives are made so much easier by these advances and yet if I do not consciously fight against their invasion I find it hard to look past them to the beauty and majesty of our Creator.
In the Church calendar this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. Many denominations in the Church use these 40 days preceding Easter to prepare for Easter by ‘giving-up’ something. The self-denial can create space in our lives to help us more easily lift our eyes above the distractions to see what really matters.
As I look at the photo and as I ask Abba how he might have me observe Lent this year, I think of Psalm 121
“1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.”
As I deny myself of something this lent, Abba will be my help. He will protect and care for me as He always does.
When seeing the majestic mountains I know that even as beautiful as they are, and as healing as that beauty is, they are not my help. I also see all the technology in front of it that is often very helpful, but that works to distract me from the true source of my help.
I ask: What distraction is preventing me from deeper communion with the Lord? What can I do without for 40 days, or longer, to help me lift my eyes to my Creator? Will you join me this Lenten season?
