Last Wednesday we began the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. Once I asked the children in church, what was Lent? They said, things such as, “the soft stuff in the bottom of your pants pockets”, and “the stuff mama takes out of the dryer after the clothes are done”. The best one was, “the stuff you get out of your belly button when you’re taking a bath.” Funny…but the answer to those statements is “lint,” not Lent. Lent is a time of honest reflection on your life, the way you live it, and your relationship with God in Christ Jesus. Paul says in the bible that, “I don’t do the things I want to do; I do the very things that I hate.” Another word for that is addiction. Addiction is knowing that you shouldn’t do something, but cannot stop, control yourself, or in anyway curb your behavior. When we find ourselves in this condition, people suggest we go to “rehab.” Rehab is the process of restoring that which is broken to it’s former whole condition. We as human beings are broken creatures because of sin. As much as we don’t want to, we do it anyway. We sin every day. The first step in rehab is to acknowledge that you have a problem, an issue an imperfection. So some questions for this week might be: What are my issues? Why do I continually do what I don’t want to do? Am I willing to allow God to help me? Reflect on these answers. Find God in those situations. How can you and God work together so you can do better? Might want to start with “I’m sorry.”

Tim Beck is pastor of Kenbridge United Methodist Church. His email address is revtimbeck@gmail.com.