today begins the days of lent, a season i have anticipated this year more than ever before. something about the time of waiting deeply captures my interest, and i love focusing on one question, idea, over a period of time.

this year i sense strongly how much i am in need of deep spiritual rest. it is a concept i thought i had in some sense, mastered. i thought i knew lots about how to take care of myself. and then another voice stepped into my life, and i realized how much more i have to learn.

i feel it in my stomach, the knot of busy, a circling that keeps me stirred up even when i am still on the outside. and lately, i have found myself sheltered up in this little cottage, struggling with my ability to simply be here, paying attention to all the pieces of me that crave true calm and quiet.

my theme for lent is rest. it seems contrary to the traditional notion of self denial, sacrifice, penitence. i honestly cannot reconcile the two, but only know this certainty about needing massage, yoga, slow walks in the afternoon, naps, space to do absolutely nothing.

i must confess, there is no scripture that i feel in my bones today. there is only this snippet from the lululemon manifesto. it strikes me as funny in some ways to base my "spiritual practice" on a slogan from a yoga clothing company. but what pulsates for me today is this idea...

"that which matters the most must never give way to that which matters the least."