Kairos Moments, Lenten Style

I just wanted you to know I feel better than Friday. 

Not sure if it was the importance of all the prayers that were answered last week, or physical exhaustion coming to the end of half-marathon training, or just because it was the first week back after Christmas break and we were all worn out - but as previous stated, I was pooped mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.  That last post was a little too raw, methinks.  And as evidenced by my general crankiness all weekend that my husband and children would attest too (but thankfully, they don't write this blog.)

I know it's a little early to be writing about Lent, seeing as how in Church Year-time it's only just past Epiphany Day (which was Friday I now see).  That's the day you are supposed to remember your baptism or Epiphany to The Lord.  It's a cool day, I like it a lot.

However, I didn't celebrate it with worship this year.  We are in the hunt for a church home and frankly have gotten out of the habit of going.  For someone who was once propelled out of bed on Sunday mornings for the good of my soul (and those souls around me), I've gotten sort of lukewarm.  It's been a reversal of feeling as I'm way more committed to my daily time with The Lord.  Maybe that's because I haven't been going to corporate worship a lot in the last 3 months, I feel the need to connect even more to God.  It's weird, I know.

But this too shall pass.

I just got done, in my most anal-retentive way, of putting together a list of churches with corresponding locations and service times, to discuss with my husband.  Our goal in a new church home is one we BOTH pick and one that is good for our family growth.  Basically, we want a church where all of us can plug in now and for the long-term.  Our old church was great, but it was the one I picked, before Dave came to Christ.  So, we need one we are both comfortable in, as well as where we can feel confident our girls can grow in.

The drive for this list (and you may know by now that I do LOVE lists, it's my overcompensation for my lack of detail orientation), is that I know Lent will be here before I blink.  And I need a safe place to worship because I also love Lent.  I love Easter most, but Lent is pretty cool.  I like the re-dedication-in-meditation air to the season.  Christmas is great, but I like to stretch spiritually, which is the whole point of Lent.

Also, because Natalie already has her Lenten sacrifice picked out.  Mind you, this is totally her idea, after a very brief discussion several months ago about Lent.  One of her friends at school told her it was 40 days of paying said friend a dollar a day to borrow a toy.  While I admire the spunk of this friend, I had to correct the definition.  Apparently, it's been marinating in Natalie's brain because on our way back from Orlando on Christmas Day, she asked me when Lent was.

Odd question from an 8 year old, but I rolled with it.  I told her and then, naturally, asked why?

She said because she'd been thinking about what she wanted to give up to God.  After I picked myself up off the floor, I asked her what?  She said her nightlight.  Her reasoning is that she feels she is too old for it.  When my faculties returned, I told her that would be the perfect opportunity to grow her dependence on God - so whenever she woke up in the night, instead of being reassured by her nightlight, she could talk to God.  She smiled and said, "Ok."

In following her lead (and she revealed another reason we need to get to church - my kids need Sunday School!), it occurred to me during reading the latest post on Momastery (which has been shared out over 207,000 times!!!) what my Lenten sacrifice should be:

Daily Reflection on my Kairos moments.

Glennon defines in that post, called "Don't Carpe Diem" what that means:

Then there’s Kairos time. Kairos is God’s time. It’s time outside of time. It’s metaphysical time. It’s those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.

I think that ties in well with my personal theme for the year - consistent.  Consistently being in touch with God and His blessings throughout my day.  So, for 40 days, starting February 22nd, I'm going to put effort into recognizing those Kairos moments and I know one of them will be like what Natalie did on Saturday afternoon as I was out in the street talking to a neighbor.  She rode up on her bike, looked at me and smiled.  She just stood there for a minute and then puckered up.  After said "toll" was paid, she rode off.

Beautiful, sweet sugar.  What a blessing!!  I think that is the kind of stuff God wants to stretch me with this year - being thankful for what He has given me and enjoying it!  Thanks to Natalie, thanks to Momastery and thanks to all of you for being part of my journey!