If you are someone who collects a lot of books, you can understand the value of bookends. Bookends are typically placed at the beginning and the end, or otherwise stated, on both ends (because what’s the beginning, and what’s the end?) of a row of books. They help to keep the books upright and orderly.

I like to think of Christmas and Easter as bookends, and we are the books. Christ was born, lived, died, and was resurrected in that time frame. In our lives, not a whole lot of time passes between December and April, but in the church life, we are moved quickly from one side of heaven to the other, from birth to resurrection.

This time frame is very important to have. At Advent, we spend time in preparation for the birth of Jesus, and soon, we will be in Lent, spending our time on our journey with Jesus to the cross in repentance and self-denial. Both seasons are important in our lives, so, like a row of books, we too can remain upright.

In our growth group, “Immersion Bible Study: Genesis,” we are learning that there are many years that pass from one significant event in scripture to the other significant event. We might call this the ordinary time. It is often in these times that the Israelites fall away from God. They find themselves out of sync with God’s will and doing their own things. It is during these times that we are told the hearts of people turn selfish and greedy. The word evil has even been used to describe the thoughts and motives of hearts during these seasons (See Genesis 6:5). That is a common temptation for us as well. It is in the ordinary times, when not much is happening, and we are not striving or preparing for something specific, that we tend to get a little bored. In our boredom, our self-control begins to slip a little bit. Before we realize it, we are engaged in activities that might not leave us standing upright like we are meant to do when following the will of God.

This is why it is so important to observe the seasons of Advent and Lent. In taking the call to spiritual disciplines seriously during these times, we build up our spines, our covers, the protective layers over our hearts, to withstand the long ordinary season to come.

I invite you to join me this Lent, which begins on March 2nd, as we recognize Ash Wednesday at St. Matthews AME Zion Church (details found here) to take serious the observance of Lent. Join me in making a commitment to a new spiritual discipline in your daily life that leads you to spend more time focusing on Jesus, the protector of your heart.

A list of Spiritual Disciplines could include: time set aside in prayer each day, time set aside in Bible study each day, fasting from a meal, so you have time to spend focusing on God, taking a daily walk to observe God’s beautiful creation. If you notice, all of these things require your time. That is why we consider this a season of self-denial. You give something up to make the time to do these things. However, when you give something up to spend time with God, you get way more back than you had in the first place.

What will you do with your time this Lenten season?

Photo by Lamerie