Wait, now is the time?

I seem to have become the cliche - the mom blogger who disappears for weeks at a time. I could say that I've been busy (I have) or that I've been uninspired (also true) or even that I've been on my knees cleaning up sticky glass from a fantastic medicine bottle accident that defies description (and I was, er, indisposed in the bathroom at that moment). But the real truth is that I've been playing video games. I have been sucked into some weird winter video game vortex. Beware! You might also be in danger! In order to prevent my brain from completely petrifying as my fingers become ever twitchier, I'm going to attempt to actually string together a few thoughts about Lent.

For some reason, this Lent is a tough one for me. It snuck up on me. Ash Wednesday came early this year. I barely finished packing away the wise men before turning my attention to the desert. I'm not ready for the desert! I haven't made plans! I haven't gathered waterskins and all the other paraphernalia one expects to need on such a journey! Or maybe, just maybe, that's the point. Maybe this is the season that I'm supposed to just drop everything and face God unprepared. Maybe I need to stop wearing the desert paraphernalia as armor and just go into the desert, trusting that I will come out the other side better for my experience. I am both hopeful and terrified.