This Season of Lent

I have just blown out around 40 candles, not in practise for an up and coming event but at the end of a challenging and peaceful Lent Meditation. As we lit three of the larger candles the first struggled to come to life and indeed took the whole session to burn bright, the second was a little stronger but still not dynamic initially, the third burned bright and strong. A powerful image of the stages of Lent. As we entered this season of Lent the world around was cold and dark. We were digging hard cold soil in our "allotment", there were few signs of life. A couple of weeks ago the little people and I planted up many trays of seeds in a joyful but chaotic way. I struggled to see how anything would emerge. However the world is warming, we have seen the sun now for a few days and the days are lengthening. I opened the green house today and was like a child myself as I spotted loads of little plants, cabbage, broccoli, chillies and more. All around there are signs of living again.
We were encouraged to consider what in us has lane dormant, what is ready to come to life again as the time is right. Might be a bit of a struggle to emerge, through the dark soil, thru layers of stuff but the purpose is new life. Dare we believe that something tiny can produce something strong?
I was challenged, too, by Peter, Jesus disciple, the mouthy passionate one. He had seen all his ambitions, passions, life and love die on a cross and his response? "I am going back to fishing." In his confusion, hurt and disappointement he was willing to settle for the familiar, for the mundane, in what for him was safe. He was not left there. He was sought out, restored, and sent back on his way to be all he had been made for. Amen!

Thank you my ignatian-ite friend and to my fellow journey-ers for tonight. Come back often!