"For where your treasure is..."

There is a comfortable rhythm to the “seasons” of the church year which are similar to the changing seasons in our New England climate. It was a joyful thing the other day to once again see the sap buckets hanging on the sugar maple trees around the yard of the parsonage because this means spring really IS coming! The sap is running and that means the earth is preparing to send forth new life into every living thing. This, my friends, includes us! This is what Ash Wednesday and Lent are all about: preparing the way for new life, new growth, stronger limbs, more and better fruit to come as a result, and new sweetness sprung from the ashes of old sorrows. Who would think, for example, that from deep within the gray hardness of the sugar maple tree would gush clear, bountiful liquid which from the Native Americans we learned to boil down into a healthy, luxurious sweet syrup? In recent years we’ve discovered that maple syrup is one of the few sweeteners which are more kind to the system as it doesn’t cause a sudden jump in insulin requirements. One more way in which God provides not only for us to just “survive” or “get by”, but gives us the very best --- HIS very best, as we are His children whom He loves.
Lent is a time between the depth of winter and the brightness of spring which provides us the perfect opportunity to become reoriented to just who we are, as in “Whose” we are. We are God’s children, heirs to Christ and His kingdom. This is our time to prepare the way to receive all that this means: joyful, spirit-filled, faith-filled and faithful living. New life in every way, in the here and now, right here on earth.
Ash Wednesday is a perfect time to get back to the basics: God will and does provide everything which we, His children need. Realize that Lent is our time, 40 days, to diligently return to the basics. To pare back from earthly luxuries which distract us from the fullness of life Jesus came for us to have: warm relationships with Him and with others, gladness from the everyday beauty which surrounds us, reconciliation and forgiveness, putting aside shackling and poisonous bitterness, and renewal of a meaningful, joyful satisfaction of giving deeply so that others may have restoration in their life.
Throughout Lent, I’d like you to consider this verse, meditate upon it, and delve deeply into it. Daily set aside quietness for yourself in listening, as the Lord will speak to you personally about what it means specifically to you and your growth: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matt. 6:21
Bidding you the peace of Christ!