Packing for the Journey

At a family event I my late 20s I was struck by how people prepare for a journey.  One of our guests had her entire trunk stuffed to the gills.  There was a toaster, suitcases, food, fans.  If she thought she might need it, she packed it.  She was prepared for any contingency and emergency.  To feel secure she had to make sure she had anything that she might need.  Then there was my grandmother who had packed her tiny, seriously smaller than a carryon bag, suitcase to head to my Aunts house after the gathering.  My grandmother believed in traveling light.  She knew that on any journey she took, she would meet companions and be offered hospitality.  She never worried about not having enough. She knew someone would help fill her needs.  So she packed two dresses, pajamas, underwear, a sweater, a tooth brush and brush.  Grandma didn’t worry about the things of the journey she was ready to enjoy the people and places she encountered.

Lent is a time for us to stop and take stock of our faith journey.  Lent provides this built in time in the church year when we take time to renew our journey with God.  How is journey with God going?  Are you in comfortable place?  Do you feel like you need to set out in a new way? Have you let is slide?  As we travel this journey with Jesus to the cross, we will discover along the way that even as we encounter some of life’s most difficult circumstances Hope can be found.  We know that the path that leads to the cross will be difficult.  This lent we will be looking for and discovering how to find the hope in the midst of challenge.  What are your expectations as you begin this journey?  I encourage you to open yourself to the hope made possible when we journey with Jesus.  As we begin our Lenten journey together be still for a moment and consider these words from the hymn I have decided to follow Jesus.

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
No turning back, no turning back.