Death and New Life.

I remember Pastor Tasha last spring preaching on how walking the faith life sometimes feels like dieing and sometimes feels joyful. That has really stuck with me. Sometimes it feels like Good Friday...sometimes like Easter morning. What about the rest of the time though? Maybe Holy Saturday? I think so.

The journey of Lent (and faith in general) is not always suppose to be easy or feel good. And let's be real life is not always suppose to feel good or be easy. It's suppose to be hard. It's suppose to have highs and lows. There will be mountain tops and deserts-that guaranteed.

I see a lot of people today trying to numb the bad or to hide the scary or to run away from the mess. Yet, the season of Lent reminds us we can't numb or hide from it or run away. Instead we are called to walk in it. Whatever "it" is for you, for me. Sometimes we're called to leave stuff behind. Sometimes we're called to turn and go the other way or to start new. Sometimes we're called to take risks and to speak up. Sometimes we're called to just be silent and wait.

Sometimes the faith journey feels like dieing. It hurts, it's confusing, and it does not provide a lot of answers. Sometimes something has to die (a dream, a habit or addiction, a relationship, our anxiety, our expectations, our selfishness or greed...) and it hurts. This perhaps is why winter feels like the perfect season for lent. It's cold, it's dark, and things are dead. I think of the various things Jesus calls his disciples to do...to leave their stuff behind, to follow him where ever he goes, to reach out to the outcast, sick, and to go to places totally unknown and share the good news. Jesus says to us, his disciples, "take up your cross and follow me.". Our cross IS his cross. We know our Lenten journey will lead us to death.

Sometimes the faith journey feels like the joy of new life. A fresh start, new birth, answered prayers, healing, forgiveness when we don't deserve it, unconditional love, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a new call, and community who loves and cares for you...sometimes the journey of faith feels joyful and new. This weather in Minnesota has been incredible. Today the 60 degree weather made just about everyone is a better mood. It the midst of the dead of winter spring comes and it is good and promises new life. Sometimes this is what the faith journey feels like-full of opportunity, full of joy, full of promise, full of praise, and full of blessing! Jesus promises he has come to give us, and all people, an abundant life! The Holy Spirit promises to fill us with all the fruits of the Spirit! It is in Lent that we walk in hope with a little joy in our step knowing Easter morning is just a few weeks away. We know our Lenten journey will lead us to new life.

Whatever your faith journey is like right now...however it feels....know God is with you on it.