For me, a recent blizzard-induced travel delay seemed like the perfect Lenten analogy and ultimately provided a wonderful meditation about the season and God’s promise.
Like many other Washingtonians, winter storm Jonas derailed my best-laid plans, leaving me frustrated, uncertain and anxious. After attending a friend’s weekend wedding in Charleston, SC, I was supposed to have flown back to DC Sunday evening and then to Orlando for business the following morning. Eventually, both flights were cancelled and I was left in Charleston for an extra two-and-a-half days. I felt annoyed and worried the Tuesday flight could be cancelled, and that I was imposing upon my hosts.
After resigning myself to the circumstances, I set out to make the best of it all: I was in Charleston, after all! Monday afternoon, as I was walking on the beach into the warm, stunning sunshine I considered the Washington cold and its debilitating snow. If Lent is like a dark, even deadly, storm that wrecks everything, Easter and Jesus’ resurrection is the sunny alternative—and both are bigger and better than we can imagine. Our challenge is to remember to trust God for that outcome, every time, and especially when we can’t see through the dark.

Emorie Broemel

Appointed readings for today: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 63:1-8, Luke 13:1-9