Thursday, March 19

Scripture for the Day:

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! – Luke 11:29-32

Reflection – Eleanor Christensen 

My time for prayer and reflection is first thing in the morning when I go out for a walk with my dog, Penny. I have to get out of bed early, at 5:30 a.m., to fit it in before I leave for work. I am not naturally a morning person, so I never find it easy. This time of year it is cold and dark as we head out the door, and I am bundled up in many layers with a reflective vest on top; but Penny is so eager and excited that I have to feel my spirits rise. It may be clear, foggy, rainy, or snowy—we go out every morning despite the weather and the darkness. I am a person who loves the light, so as Penny sniffs around and goes about her business, I look for any sign of light—moon, stars, or a faint glow in the East. There I feel God’s presence and thank Him for the start of another day, for my health, for my family and friends, for a warm house and a rewarding job.

I then reflect on any challenges I may face or goals I want to set for myself, and I ask for God’s help in the day ahead.

It has been my habit over the last ten years or so to begin each day with gratitude, no matter how wonderful or miserable life is on any given day. For the first few years I kept a gratitude journal in which I listed five things for which I was thankful every day. I found it often completely changed my focus from dwelling on problems to realizing that every day God sent me not one, but at least five blessings. This stood me in good stead in the darkest days of my life when my sister died and then a few weeks later so did my dad. Even on those days, I could list my five blessings —the love and support of friends, beautiful hymns to be planned for the funeral, sunshine, wonderful food that was offered, my own health, and the strength to support my mother. By now the habit of gratitude has become so much a part of my day that I do not need the journal.

And so in Lent, I continue to walk with Penny each day, seeing more and more light in the early morning sky. By Easter Day, I will be greeted, if not by glorious sunshine, at least by daylight. Thanks be to God for the coming of the Light.