A Story for Lent

A seeker came to a holy man.  The holy man was respected for miles around and many people came to him for his advice.  The seeker knelt and the holy man asked him what he wanted.  He said that all he wanted was to know how to resist temptation. 

The holy man sent him to the river and told him to bring back a bowl of water filled to the brim.  The seeker was anxious to please so he filled the bowl right to the top and then came back to kneel before the holy man. 

The holy man noticed two soldiers also waiting to talk with him and he called them forward.  Then he said to the seeker, “Carry your bowl through the streets of the city, through the market, through the places where the girls go to talk, through the busiest streets.  These soldiers will walk behind you.  If you spill one drop they will run you through with their swords.  If you come back with your bowl full you will have earned the right to the answer to your question.  Go now.”

This was not what the seeker had hoped for but he took his bowl and walked slowly through the streets of the city.  The streets were bustling but still he walked.  He went through the market and still he walked.  He passed the women but still he walked.  It was a long way and the path was not good, but he knew that the soldiers were right behind him.  It took several hours but eventually he returned to the holy man with his bowl.

The holy man saw him approach and asked, “Did you see anything in the market you wanted to buy?”  “No” said the seeker.

“How long were you in the gaming houses?”

“I did not go into the gaming houses.”

  

“And the girls you passed.  Were they beautiful?”

“I did not look.  Every step of the way I kept my eyes fixed on my bowl of water.”

“Well,” said the holy man, “today you kept your eyes fixed on your bowl of water.   If throughout your life you keep your eyes fixed on the truth you will resist all temptation.

This is not an original story.  I have known it for years but have no idea where I found it.

Holy Saturday

Christ was hurriedly buried in his borrowed tomb before the Sabbath could begin.  

 

For me Sabbath is a day of delighting in God and knowing he delights in me.  But that Sabbath knew no delight, just desolation.

On the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday today.  The trundle truck and I went up to the parish church this morning and I acquired the traditional dirty face with which to start Lent.

Traditionally Christians have used this time before Easter as a time of re-orienting their lives.  It was the time of preparation for baptism and the whole church supported the new Christians by joining in with prayer, almsgiving and fasting.  The fasting had nothing to do with getting into one’s summer clothes and everything to do with remembering God.

Fasting also gives rise to the modern idea of “giving something up for Lent”.  The idea is that each time we drink a cup of tea without sugar, or say no to a drink, or feel hungry because the price of lunch has been donated to charity, our minds turn to Christ. 

When I was a child it was always chocolate which was on hold for those six and a half weeks.  These days chocolate is such a rare treat anyway that it wouldn’t make much difference.  Maturity brings its own excesses and opportunities.

I cleaned my face after I left church this morning.  And I started the reflective walk to Easter.