Day 15 of Lent :: A Time to Refocus

You open your hand and satisfy
the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 145:16

In Matthew 6, Jesus stressed the hidden life. “Whether we give alms, prayer, or fast,” writes Nouwen, “we are to do it in a hidden way, not to be praised by people but to enter into closer communion with God. Lent is a time of returning to God. It is a time to confess how we keep looking for joy, peace, and satisfaction in many people and things surrounding us, without really finding what we desire. Only God can give us what we want…Lent is a time of refocusing, of reentering the place of truth, of reclaiming our true identity.” (Henri Nouwen, Sabbatical Journey: The Diary of His Final Year, 36)

Reflection: Take a few moments and think about the past fifteen days of Lent.

• What have you fasted?
  
• What have you given up?
  
• What new patterns and practices have you picked up?
  
• What are some notable observations of what’s been happening within you?

Action: Find a friend and share some of the above observations.