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Good Morning. Coming, as I do, from a long line of farmers, this time each year saw the annual rituals marking the end of winter: I would watch my grandmother organise the annual big, Spring clean of the farm house; and my grandfather planning the planting and the lambing in the months ahead.

Though I am now a confirmed townie, those rhythms go deep and it鈥檚 about now that I feel a yearly urge to clear away the clutter that used to have a purpose but now just gets in the way; and an itch to put something into the ground and see what will spring up.

Really, isn鈥檛 that what Lent which begins today with Ash Wednesday, is about?聽 Spiritually clearing out from life what鈥檚 leaving no room; planting a few seedlings, hoping they might take root?聽 Using what鈥檚 there in life as stepping stones to the spirit.

As children, we were taught to do two things in Lent: give something up; take up something new.聽 And reminded that a good lent wasn鈥檛 about the outward show of ashes on our foreheads but reaching Easter Sunday with a changed heart.聽 The age-old tension between faith鈥檚 outward form and inward reality that is beautifully caught by Robert Herrick:

Is this a fast, to keep the larder, lean?聽 And clean from fat of veals and sheep?聽 Is it to quit the dish of flesh, yet still to fill the platter high with fish?聽 Is it to fast an hour, or ragged to go, or show a downcast look and sour?

No; 鈥榯is a fast to dole thy sheaf of wheat and meat, unto the hungry soul.聽 It is to fast from strife and old debate and hate; to circumcise thy life.聽 To show a heart grief-rent; to starve thy sin, not bin.聽 And that鈥檚 to keep thy Lent.

May that be God鈥檚 blessing to all of us who seek it, in these Lenten days. AMEN.