Temptation rarely arrives wearing a disguise that is easy to recognize. More often, it quietly invites us to settle for comfort, complacency, and lives that ask very little of us. This reflection explores the subtle temptations that can dull our spiritual lives and the gentle call of Christ to remain awake, attentive, and open to the transforming work of God’s grace.
Tag Archives: Spiritual Reflection
The First Sunday of Lent: When the Journey Begins Before We Feel Ready
The journey of Lent rarely begins at the moment we feel fully prepared. Like so much of the Christian life, it starts with an invitation to trust God before we have everything figured out. This reflection explores the courage of taking the first step, discovering that God’s grace is already waiting for us on the road ahead.
Before We Improve Ourselves: Letting God Like Us First
Lent often awakens the desire to become better people. Yet before God calls us to change, God first calls us beloved. This reflection explores the liberating truth that spiritual growth begins not with earning God’s approval, but with receiving the grace of being loved exactly where we are, and allowing that love to transform us from the inside out.
Learning to Walk Slower: Lent, Fridays, and the Spiritual Discipline of Not Rushing
Lent invites us to do something that feels surprisingly difficult: slow down. In a world that rewards hurry, the deliberate pace of the season becomes its own spiritual discipline. This reflection explores the grace of walking more slowly, discovering that God’s voice is often heard most clearly when we stop rushing long enough to listen.
The Morning After the Ashes: When Lent Feels Awkward, Ordinary, and Slightly Underwhelming
The morning after Ash Wednesday rarely feels dramatic. The ashes have faded, ordinary routines have returned, and Lent begins with a quiet awkwardness that can seem almost underwhelming. This reflection explores the gentle grace of these ordinary beginnings, reminding us that God often does God’s deepest work not through dramatic moments, but through the faithful rhythms of everyday discipleship.
Ash Wednesday: The Day the Church Tells the Truth (Gently, and With Ashes)
Ash Wednesday begins with a simple but profound truth: we are dust, and to dust we shall return. Yet the ashes are never a sign of despair. They are traced in the shape of the cross, reminding us that our mortality is held within God’s mercy. This reflection explores the gentle honesty of Ash Wednesday and the hope that begins when we entrust ourselves once again to God’s unfailing grace.
Shrove Tuesday: Or, the Day the Church Invented Pancakes (for Holy Reasons)
Before the quiet disciplines of Lent begin, the Church has long known the wisdom of celebrating with pancakes, laughter, and generous hospitality. Shrove Tuesday reminds us that feasting and fasting belong together in the Christian life. This reflection explores the joyful theology behind one of the Church’s most delicious traditions and the grace of preparing our hearts with both gratitude and good humour.
Why God Seems to Prefer the In-Between Days
Most of life is lived between the great celebrations and defining milestones. It is in these ordinary, in-between days that faith quietly takes root and God’s grace steadily shapes our hearts. This reflection explores the sacred gift of the everyday, discovering that God often does the most enduring work not in extraordinary moments, but in the faithful rhythms that fill the spaces between them.
Spiritual Spring Cleaning (Without Yet Touching the Ashes)
As Lent approaches, many of us feel the quiet urge to clear away what has accumulated in our hearts and lives. Before the ashes are imposed, there is an opportunity to prepare with honesty, hope, and expectation. This reflection explores the grace of spiritual spring cleaning, making room for God long before the season of repentance formally begins.
When Even the Alleluias Seem Tired
There are seasons when even our songs of praise seem quieter than usual. We still believe, we still gather, yet our Alleluias may feel a little worn around the edges. This reflection explores the comforting truth that God welcomes our weary worship, meeting us with grace and renewing our hearts even when our joy feels tired and our voices are less than strong.