What happens at the intersection of Broadway and Lent? A sacred invitation is extended.
At least that’s what happened in my little corner of the world this morning. As I hang out with God in my prayer chair, I’m still processing how the Broadway show “Once” captured my heart last night and won’t let it go. How the musical number “Falling Slowly” – winner of an Academy Award for best original song – described me when I first met up with my Broadway buddy Brent downtown for dinner.
All week long I’d been falling slowly to the point I thought of cancelling much-loved theater night. Early mornings. Late nights. Two kids in two sports with conflicting car pool schedules. Client deadlines. Tough marriage counseling session. “Moods that take me and erase me and they paint me black.” And the mood didn’t lighten at dinner either as is usually the case. Brent shared the shocking news that a long-time, dear friend of ours had learned 24 hours prior that he’s extremely sick and facing the fight of his life to beat advanced cancer. Heaviness weighed on our hearts as tears fell shared.
“Take this sinking boat and point it home…” the lyrics echo.
It resonated with me at the very core. There is great news when life has me falling slowly. I know my ROCK Eternal will break the fall and I can once again stand firm. I can take my sinking heart and anchor it on the ROCK. Once. Once again. And again forevermore I can return. I can return to His wide-open arms, His never-ending love and His timeless Truth.
So this Lenten season, once again, I return to the ROCK and seek Him with greater intensity; by creating more space for Him before the sun comes up each day; by way of giving up things I love for someone I love more; to go deeper still with the risen Son of the Living God.
This just in:
A sacred invitation.
An invitation personally extended to each one of us as we prepare for Easter Sunday:
“‘And yet even now,’ says the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart.’ ” Joel 2:12
