As I write this, the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday is just a day away. I am currently really enjoying watching some of the Winter Olympics from the Italian Dolomites and Milan, particularly the skiing, the sliding sports and the curling! The thing that strikes me so strongly is the amount of work, commitment and discipline that goes into the performance of each athlete there, which is what makes it so disappointing when an athlete or team is expected to win a medal but only manages 4th place (which has happened with some of the British athletes).

Lent is a season in the Church’s calendar during which we should take time to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God, and to move forward in our Christian journeys. It seems to me that we need some of the same kind of commitment and discipline in our Christian lives and faith as the Olympic athletes show, and Lent is a good time to renew our commitment as disciples of Jesus and to undertake some practice which is spiritually helpful (and not just done for its own sake). Traditionally this has involved some kind of penance or the giving up of something such as chocolate or alcohol, but I would say it might be more helpful to actually take something on. This could be the discipline of praying more regularly, which could be saying the morning or evening prayers, or simply spending more time with God in quiet reflection, contemplation and prayer. Alternatively, it could be taking on some kind of work caring for others and being proactive in sharing God’s love with our fellow human beings. Whatever you decide to do, may God bless you this Lent season.

As we begin the journey of Lent, let me leave you with an Ash Wednesday prayer:-

Merciful Father, turn us from sin to faithfulness and from disobedience to love, and prepare us to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ our Saviour, who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.

The Reverend Richard Clement