By: Deacon Kevin Fuller
Associate Director of the TEC Conference
This winter has been particularly intense. Deep snow and cold temperatures in many parts of the country have added to the darkness and quiet of the season. I have been looking out my window the past few weeks wondering when the seasons will change. When is spring ever going to come?
Enter the paschal mystery. The idea that death must come before new life. Jesus suffers and dies so we may rise. This primary concept of the Catholic Church and of TEC continues to remind me of the cycles that are important in my life.
Winter, with its earth-freezing power, is so important. Allowing things to die or go dormant for a period of time is critical to a healthy spring. Insects that are dangerous to plants and animals are stopped. Plants go dormant and animals hibernate. There is a stillness, a peace almost, even a restfulness, if we let winter fully enter our lives. Scarcity of things we need grows as winter continues on. We begin to long for a change, for new life to enter in. Come on, spring!
This Lenten season can serve as a “winter” in the Church liturgical year. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we focus in on our own lives. We take six weeks to allow stillness, quiet, and scarcity to be a part of our journey. We get the opportunity for death, for letting go of things we want to move past or heal to in our lives. Reconciliation can help set the stage for the coming season of new life. Lastly, we give of ourselves, our abundance, our gifts, so that those around us might be able to make it through the “winter” of their lives. Each of these steps is important and necessary so that we might be fully open and ready for the gift of Easter.
Winter can feel long and unnecessary; however, it is only through this season of death and desolation that we can fully and deeply appreciate the new life of spring. This Lent, take time to sit in the “winter” of the Church so that when Easter finally comes, you are fully ready to receive it and live.
Blog image by Marie Rice (Riverbend TEC)
