Let’s walk a labyrinth during Lent!  This meditative path is not a maze.  We don’t need to figure anything out, or struggle to read clues, or feel lost in a mirror of confusion.  Rather, a labyrinth is designed for our benefit, a flowing pattern with a clear beginning and a clear end point with lots of mystery in between.  The only choice for one who walks a labyrinth is simply whether to move forward or not.  This journey trains us to trust: while we may have a very clear idea of the destination, the way there seems to constantly take us away from our goal and thus challenges us to put one foot in front of the other and be open to the possibilities.  Such a surprise orientation to life will draw us more closely to the empty tomb where we shall be overcome with the emotion of his resurrection.  Ave Crux, Spes Unica.

Let’s share some herbal tea with the Lord this Lenten season.  We can choose a quiet time of day, a cozy nook of our home, a familiar mug, and a fresh blend.  This ritual of making tea can be a soothing balm for our weary souls.  There is no caloric benefit, no caffeine hit, no moment of having our thirst quenched, but only the stability of however long it takes to enjoy a hot cup of tea.  In this spiritual window, the Lord will visit us and speak to us in peppermint and chamomile and hibiscus and cinnamon.  We shall breathe deeply, smile widely and become an ambassador of warmth and calm to others.  Ave Crux, Spes Unica.

Walking out of work the other day, in a hurry, and Jesus stopped me.  He said, “My friend, my car won’t start, I’m scared and don’t know what to do!”  Of course, my response was predictable.  First, an empathetic statement:  “So sorry, that must be very stressful for you!”  Then, practical advice: “If you have jumper cables, you can just ask somebody to pull up next to you and follow the directions on the instruction sheet.”  And then, the clean break: “On my way to an appointment, I’m being interviewed about my ministry today!  Good luck!”  Jesus did not flinch, he was not fazed by the irony, he just kept looking at me.  Finally, honesty: “Where are you parked?  It’s no problem, it will only take a few minutes.”  May my constant need to be given over to others in service be paired with the graced awareness that Jesus is constantly calling out to me in the poverty of a world that is still in formation.  May my Lent be an occasion to see Jesus and rejoice.  Ave Crux, Spes Unica.

Do I really love my enemies?  There’s that person who was overheard criticizing me in the locker room, the one who overcharged me for an oil change, the one who made an uncharitable comment about my haircut, the one who wouldn’t let me merge into traffic, the one who cut me off mid-sentence, the one who literally punched me during an altercation, the one who kept coughing next to me on the airplane, the one who canceled our dinner plans at the last minute, and the one who lied to my face.  While it is natural to need some space from the other person while we mend our wounds, Jesus does not want us to be satisfied with a lukewarm life of distance.  He invites us, instead, to become willing to stoop down and wash the feet of the very person who has betrayed us.  Our vulnerability in this moment will not only challenge us to trust the living God in a deeply personal way, but will meet our so-called enemies at that place of their brokenness where they are actually desperate for friendship.  Ave Crux, Spes Unica.