1st Sunday of Lent - The Journey to Joy - Dear God, this is harder than I planned.

"And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Matthew 4:2-3

Tempted after 40 days?

Four Zero? Really? It has been five days, and the devil is knocking at my door!

"Dear Lord, it's me Karen - I really need your help here"....yes, already.

This whole "With the help of God" layer has really thrown me for a loop. I had Lent down, I love Lent, I am good at cleanout projects, big shows of accomplishment - I can cull and sort to rival an HGTV host. I can outlast a challenge. Or so I thought.

This Lent, I didn't go big - I went for the small stuff - the really important stuff that when added up beats the big show any day.

This everyday focus that doesn't have a big finish, oh heavens, I am in way over my head.

I know this is probably a poor analogy - but the best way I can describe my serious type-A condition in fable form is as the rabbit from the tortoise and the hare. You see, I love waiting until the end of the race/deadline and sprinting to the finish. I thrive on the hurry and the flourish, but Lent is about the long haul - not the benchmark or the finish line.

I have been fortunate to be blessed with many 'tortoise' friends/family that do not mock my 'hare' traits. These folks are loving and full of flourish but understand the necessity of the tortoise - slow and steady.

That is the help I need this Lent, the slow and steady pace of fast, pray, give.

No great flourish, no big mountain - I need to meet God in the everyday - turning away from my list of 'the big to do' and going with the seemingly simple. This is harder than planned.

Dear Lord, I can't do this without your help. Let me live the examples you've blessed me with in family and friends. Let me learn how to be slow and steady in my faith. Amen