Sunday Reflections: Wear Your Lent Well

By Rev. Susan Schwartz

Have you ever had those days?  Days when you wake up in the morning and it was dreary and rainy.  You can see outside and the outside doesn’t say to you “Time to get up.” Had those kinds of days? The kind of day that you roll over and pull the covers over your head and snuggle down and close your eyes, “I don’t really have to do that today.” The kind of day that whispers in your ear that this is what the brown bears feel like. Oh sure, you’ve had those days. We all have.

Last week on the radio, I heard that Pittsburgh comes right after Seattle Washington in having the most overcast days in a calendar year. I think most of them come during Lent. Actually, I think they all come in Lent. It is a conspiracy, I know it!

This time of year is dark and cold and nasty in many parts of the world.  Europe, for sure, North America, more than other times of the year, yes.  All of that is typical to our locale. For those of us who experience this kind of weather in January, February, March, even into April, that Lent would come in that same period of time, seems fitting. Lent is dark and foreboding, and the weather compliments the mood. There is something very powerful about the experiential. We can speak about the mood of Lent, but when we experience it in our daily lives, the reality becomes even more profound. There is something about all of this that goes beyond words.

So, wear your Lent well.

Do you hate those dark overcast days? Sometimes the darkness seems to call us to look inside. To look at ourselves. What do you see? And the cold wind. Exposure to the wind can be painful and if prolonged life threatening. Sometimes the cold wind reminds us of the coldness in our hearts. A cold heart can threaten our emotional and spiritual well-being. These days are so quiet. No birds or sounds of other animals. Just quiet. Almost soul-searching quiet.

Wear your Lent well.

Certainly do not let it become macabre. There can sometimes be a fine line between depression and helpful introspection. Especially for those who are very sensitive to the lack of sunlight, be careful and aware of where you are. You know when you are out walking in the snow it is so important to watch where you’re walking and be aware of what is underneath your feet. That is true inside us as well. Take your steps carefully.

And wear your Lent well.

The Rev. Susan Schwartz is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Swissvale and Hope Lutheran Church in Forest Hills.

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