Listen

The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead.

It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose.

Philippians 3:10-12

Think

Have you ever packed way too much stuff for a trip? Maybe stuffed your suitcase so full of extra clothes and stuff that it’s too heavy to carry?

Lent reminds us to pack lightly, to see that we carry way too much stuff with us. Sometimes people give things up for Lent, kind of like taking extra stuff out of a suitcase. That extra stuff can keep us distracted as we travel with Jesus. All we need is to know Jesus and his resurrection; the rest is just “stuff.”

Maybe spending time with Jesus and learning about how he lived his life each day could give us the energy to put things aside that don’t really help us. I wonder what you could take out of your suitcase?

Erin Spengeman Hutchison

Pray

God, I sometimes find myself carrying around and relying on too much stuff. Help me to clearly see what’s weighing me down so that I can let it go. Remind me that traveling with you is a joy, and that your burden is light. Amen.

Go

Know that Christ is alongside you, arm in arm like a good friend.

Christ is behind you, helping you.

Christ is ahead of you, showing you the way.

Christ is below you, carrying your worry.

Christ is above you, illuminating your path.

Christ is within you, for you are his home.