Lent is a time to look within

I walked down the street shortly after a massive ice storm. I had been forced to stay in far more than usual. Roads and streets were icy and slick. I dared to barely scoot my feet along.

I asked myself the purpose of the sudden deep freeze. Aside from benefits to nature, what was God trying to show me?

Since I was unable to participate in my usual activities I was obligated to make the best of an uncomfortable situation. In so doing, I kept pondering what I was learning. It was a time to look within myself and see what I needed to realize or change and what I ought to keep the same.

Lent is a season such as that. It is a spiritual time Christians observe each year. We try to put ourselves in the place of Jesus as he was forced to search inwardly -- to feel his dread of what his father asked of him, which was to die for our sins so we could be freed from all kinds of oppression. What was his suffering like, we ask, and we contemplate his pain.

We're invited to make changes in our lives to become more like Christ. We can give alms, fast and pray or we can examine ourselves to see what we can give to others materially and spiritually through love. Whatever we choose, its purpose is to mold us more into Christ's image.

Just as the ice storm allowed many people the time to meditate, Lent provides the opportunity to go inside and see what we can do to become better people and make amends to those we've hurt. Although examining ourselves isn't always pleasant, the practice reaps unforgettable rewards.

As I slipped and slid on the ice, I felt drops of water on my head as I passed underneath the frozen limbs of trees. "Ah, what beauty," I thought. The ground was hard and frozen, and broken tree branches were strewn here and there. Yet, I had never seen a more beautiful landscape. The dripping liquid was from ice melting amid nature's canvas. My feet kept moving as I dodged falling debris.

"God, what are you saying to me?" I questioned, and I probed in my being to see. Then as I continued my journey that winter's afternoon, I suddenly saw green sprigs of grass peeking between the snow and ice. I recognized that regardless of how cold and stark life seems sometimes, beauty and peace wait behind the scenes for the chance to show their faces. I was baffled at the peace of the afternoon. The only sound was the crackling of ice as it fell. Its rhythm was proof that God can bring joy and hope and light from the most frightening darkness. I caught a glimpse of spring's beauty and eagerness in spite of the destruction.

I learned that I can't always control what I choose to do with my days. My routine was totally disrupted. I was forced to find new ways to pass the time and entertain children who were home from school. I felt stressed because I'm used to planning my days much of the time. I reached deeply inward, much as we do during Lent, except for a different reason.

St. Paul tells us to "not be conformed to the ways of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12: 2. Lent is the ideal time to renew our hearts and minds. We may not recognize the transformation of our inner sacred space immediately, but know that "We have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit that is from God." "We now have the mind of Christ" 1 Corinthians 2:12, 16. Because of that promise how can one not change when he has the mind of Christ?

Ellen Shuck holds degrees in psychology, religious education and spiritual direction and provides spiritual direction to people at her office.