LENT - the fixing time

So I was at the Dentist today and he tries to engage me in serious talk about putting the world to rights! You know the scenario. You have a mouth full of hand and dentistly implements and he chooses that very moment to ask the most profound (or sometimes obscure) theological question! A lot of what is happening in the world is terrible. Japan reminds us that we can be the most sophisticated and technological society on earth - we still have no answer to nature's power. We must pray the nuclear power station problems are brought under control.

I can't fix Japan, or Libya, or Afghanistan but I can pray. Nor can I "fix" other people, if they don't want help or to act on advice that might be given. Even Jesus had to let the rich young ruler go, it saddened Him, but the poor man was so attached to his riches that the draw of following Jesus was not enough to cause him to give them up. In the end, the only person I can change is myself. Now don't get me wrong. That doesn't mean to say I should give or offer help where and when I can, of course I must continue to do that, but it is the responsibility of the other person to make their choice, take it or leave it.

LENT, the season we are in, is a season for personal fixing. For laying bare one's soul before the Lord. Its a time for getting one's heart out and spring cleaning it. To ask the serious questions and take time to be with God in prayer, real time, substantial time.....maybe then I will change, and prayer can flow forth for our needy world.