Lent

(During Lent, we have invited members of the Peace of Christ Church Community to share their own reflections, stories, or poetry about what Lent means to them. This Reflection comes from Peace Community Member Sharon O’Neal.)

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Lent.

Such a strange word to the young child growing up in the Deep South;

It’s the stuff Mommy cleans out of the dryer lest it catch on fire and burn down the house,

Or the tiny pieces of string and stuff that litters unkempt jackets,

Or even the stuff found in one’s bellybutton at bathtime.

But one day they go to school and their teacher

Has a smudge of dirt on their forehead,

And it looks like a cross,

But where and why did they get a dirt cross drawn on their face?

Should they ask about it?

Or will they be told, “Don’t ask personal questions”

It becomes a mystery deep and dark borne of unsatisfied curiosity,

Until someone is heard to whisper, “It’s for Lent”;

And the young child is left to wonder:

Dryer, jacket, or bellybutton?

Sharon just celebrated the first anniversary of her epiphany that she can write poems. She’s

very thankful for Pastor Aurelia’s role in being the wise catalyst with “I Am From…” for Lent

2024 that unlocked this epiphany, as well as for her author husband who GETS HER (as much

as anyone can “get” another human being.)