Giving Up My Wife for Lent

sunHow embarrassing is it to go to add a new post and discover it has been a YEAR!  It was at Lent last year when I last wrote on this blog.  And this time I am even deeper into the Lenten season before I begin to write.

As I look over the last post, I see were very little has changed and once again, Lent becomes the time to refocus.  For me, Lent is a lot like other folks New Year.  It’s a time I evaluate, choose my direction and implement changes – at least spiritually speaking, however, it often merges into health, family and life in general.

This year is also unique in that I have given up my wife for Lent.

That isn’t what it may sound like.  It is only for 10 days, not 40, as she spends time with her folks to help them through surgery and recovery.  But I have learned so much in this time apart.

First, single parenting is tough.  I’ve experienced this before and I have a great deal of respect for all the single parents out there, but I needed the reminder.  I appreciate my wife so much more as I run from place to place and scramble to get most things done before I fall into bed.  The unending list of tasks begins at 5:30am and rarely ends before 9:30pm.  It’s crazy.  Yet, I manage.

Second, there is no time for ritual.  There is no “Sabbath rest” or daily time of quiet contemplation.  There is not retreat to a sacred place for a couple hours spent with God.  There is only life.  And a lot of it seems to be happening right now.  Fast and unrelenting.

But, it has been an interesting experience and I think maybe meaningful.

I find that it is possible to choose God in the midst of every day life.

Because there is no “sacred space” for me to enter and completely set my mind on Him, I must create it as I move through the schedule.  That doesn’t mean that I can’t grab 20 to 30 minutes of “devotional time” before 6am, but that isn’t particularly “Lenten”; I’ve always done that.  What I have been unable to do is to set aside a full day each week to spend with Him as I have in the past or even 2 or 3 hours.  But that doesn’t let me off the hook.  This is Lent!

Heaven meets Earth every time I choose to acknowledge my need of God in the next moment, whether it is delivering a son to soccer practice or picking one up from work.  He is just as fully present in house painting, web site maintenance, customer service calls, sweeping and mopping, preparing meals or washing clothes as He is in quiet contemplation.  I’ve had to become more conscious of Him in the ordinary simply because that is where I must spend my time for this moment.  And I believe this is my lesson for Lent.

I expect when Laura returns, I will be able to find some “sacred space.”  But I don’t want to forget this part of the journey.  I don’t want to lose the sacred moments interwoven with the mundane.  His touch makes even the most menial task divine!

What a gift it is to catch a glimpse of His hand in the most insignificant tasks.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:15-17 NIV)

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1 Response to Giving Up My Wife for Lent

  1. Becky Moxley says:

    Thanks for everything. I needed a reminder! I have breath prayers I say. Your wife was given to me for a few days during lent for my “renew”.

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