A Few Gears

Downshifting into Lent

I invite you… to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. —Ash Wednesday liturgy in The Book of Common Prayer

A Few Gears

I’m downshifting a few gears
into Lent this year. 

Simplicity, discipline, lamentation
sound good right about now. 

These crisp days on the equinoctial cusp,
become a season to trust

God is in the bleak, bitter, budding too. 

While chaos, destruction, death swirl, 

I scroll through scripture, pray
for justice, reflect on forgiveness. 

Shed excess layers, baggage, habits;
slow down to pull, climb, tow; 

in preparation for a new 
start, spring, resurrection.  

Photo by Alok Sharma on Unsplash

---

We’re halfway through Lent. Twenty days past and twenty to go. I’m still trying to downshift into this season. Today I’m leaving for a lenten parish retreat at Holy Cross Monastery, looking forward to a few days of quiet and prayer.

Q: How are you downshifting as we enter deep Lent? Email your reply or comment on the Substack app.

---