It would be an understatement to say I am sick of shoveling snow this winter.
But it has given me a lot of time to think… and pray.
I am early shoveler. I like to get out and shovel the snow so that the sun can do its work. I am amazed at how quickly the sun melts the snow down to a nice, clean, dry driveway after I clear the snow.
Kind of like Lent.
Lent is time when Christians enter a period of spring training. We focus a bit more intensely on prayer, fasting and works of mercy. These three together are called “the discipline of Lent” or, as I like to call them, “shoveling snow.”
So the Son can do his work.
These practices are meant to slowly (and, let’s be honest, imperfectly) remove the roadblocks, sins and distractions that get in the way of the Son doing his work: melting our hearts so that we may receive the warmth of his love and share that love with others.
This is not to say that Jesus couldn’t simply melt on this snow on his own. Spring reminds us of that each year: a regular example of Jesus’ Easter Victory over sin, death and the devil. But the fact that we get to shovel shows us the character of God’s love: always non-coercive, always steadfast (and, let’s be honest, sometimes slower than we’d like).
The driveway snow is melting. I hope this winter is almost over. But Lent is about to begin.