During the Christian Season of Lent we are invited to an intentional time of prayer and reflection as we prepare ourselves for Holy Week and Easter. The forty days of Lent are a time set apart. Our United Methodist Book of Worship calls us to this time with the words:

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church,
to observe a holy Lent:
by self–examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self–denial;
and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word.

For the next few weeks I will use this space to consider each of these ways of observing Lent, starting with today and self-examination.

According to the dictionary, self-examination is the "introspective consideration of ones thoughts or emotions." I would add 'actions' as well. When we consider our thoughts, emotions and actions we begin to see what motivates us, what bring us joy and what brings us pain and anxiety. Self-examination is not easy, though, because we are often forced to see things about ourselves we would rather deny. We might see ways that our actions hurt others. We might see that our thoughts are not as pure or generous as we might like. Self-examination can be a difficult process.

Self-examination can also be fruitful. True self-examination leads to repentance and change, which I will talk about in my next blog post! In the meantime, I invite you to spend sometime in self-examination this week. What in your life ~ thoughts, actions, emotions ~ keeps you from drawing even closer to God? You are welcome to share any thoughts or insights here! May you be blessed as you observe a holy Lent.