Good afternoon! I hope you’ve been able to get outside today and enjoy some of this amazing Spring weather!
Our Lenten Devotional for today was written by Leah Carnahan! Leah is one of the Assistant Deans in Campus Life, where she focuses her efforts on Student Advocacy, Crisis Response, and coordinates the TCU Victim’s Advocate Program. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Leah over the past year, and I’ve always appreciated her genuine sense of warmth and compassion, as well as her genuine desire to help others in need. I was so grateful when she agreed to write a devotional this year, and I trust that you’ll appreciate what she has to share with you today. Her words are a good reminder that God often speaks to us in unexpected ways. Blessings, Todd
April 10, 2014 By: Leah Carnahan
The Lent Song
(Sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques”)
Prayers and Fasting, and Alms Giving,
We are meant, to repent.
40 days of sacrifice,
Being super, extra nice,
This is Lent. This is Lent.
For many years, I viewed Lent as a solemn time in the church year that was spent giving something up and being focused on myself and my actions. In recent years my perception and personal experience with Lent has evolved and changed. I use the Lenten season as a time to re-commit to my faith and re-new my love of God. I no longer focus on giving something up, but rather take on something new or focus on improving things I already do. In many ways it is like a spiritual new year’s resolution, but one I am much better at keeping!
This year I had not spent much time or energy thinking about what I would take on or focus on for Lent. I waited and listened for God. Through years of experience I have learned to stop and listen, for often my plans and thoughts are not what God has in store for me! Then through the voice of my 4 year old son singing in the car I heard God’s call to me for this Lent. My son got in the car after school and started singing the The Lent Song with the accompanying motions! “Being super, extra nice” was my mission. In my more adult interpretation I see this as kindness and joy. God’s call to me was to remember to serve others with acts of kindness and joy, even if they my hinder my progress toward some goal or ideal I have set for myself. It is through taking the time to serve others with kindness that I have been filled with the joy and love of God.
O God, creator of every good gift, open our hearts and minds to hear your word. Guide us with your spirit to serve others with kindness and joy that we may filled with your eternal love and sprit. All this we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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