a·wak·en
Verb
Meaning: rouse from sleep; cause to stop sleeping | make someone aware of (something) for the first time

Lent
Noun
Meaning: a season in the Christian calendar set aside for fasting, praying, self-examination, and preparation for the resurrection of the Christ

The theme this year at 1PC for Lent is awakening. At its most basic, Lent is the season to rebalance our lives – interior and exterior – to make room for what is essential.

We begin our journey toward awakening with these words: “For you were made from dust, and to dust you shall return.” Sit with these words you’ve heard every Ash Wednesday and at every funeral service you’ve ever attended. We are from the Earth. Our life is drawn from the Earth. Of course, that dust is made from exploding stars and from all the life that ever existed. It carries the memories of billions of years, immense wisdom, and lives lived long ago. We are deeply connected with all that has come before. One day, I shall return to that dust—and my being will merge with it. Why do we start with this sobering reminder? We cannot avoid death. We all die. Ash Wednesday invites us to release our false sense of control and awaken to the good news that we are with God, and God is with us— in life and death. This intentional recalling of our mortality, this lived acceptance of death, is known in some spiritual circles as the practice of memento mori, “Remember your death.” Although it may seem gothic at first glance, the phrase is sometimes extended to memento mori, memento vivere: “Remember dying; remember living.” A well-accepted awareness of death should encourage us to deeper, more thoughtful living.

Imagine traversing the Lenten landscape with this approach: a thoughtful way of living. Consider what practices you will adopt or relinquish to awaken to the fullness of God’s presence in your life. Remember, Lent and the disciplines we practice are not meant to separate us from our everyday lives. Instead, they are intended to draw us deeper into the lives of those around us. Lent is a season to return to – to awaken to – our True Selves. It is also a time to discover ways in which all people can flourish – that is, to respond to God’s call by living in solidarity with all our neighbors. What does this mean? Simply put, Lent is the season where we intentionally follow the ways of Jesus, sharing in God's purpose for the life of the world.

Lent is when we wake up while living our lives instead of waiting for the next one.
What will you do this Lent – give up or take on – to awaken to the life God calls you toward?