By Bishop Todd Hunter

We recently got a puppy—a beautiful little Scottish Terrier. This is our fifth Scotty, so I can tell you that terriers can be, well, terriers! They are curious, determined and full of life. This means they occasionally come in the house with mud from nose to rear or come out of the closet, shiny eyed, with one of mom’s favorite slippers bouncing from their sharp little teeth!

I am like that. While mostly possessing the aspiration to desire and do the good, I occasionally dig around in human life in ways that cover me in mud. I sometimes cling to things that are a “no!” Periodically I need a bath and a reminder that some things I cling to are a “no!”

Thus, over a dozen years of engaging in Anglican spirituality, Lent has become to me a cherished rhythm. I have come to see Lent as a joyous season of examination. As Psalm 139 (MSG) has it:

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; see for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Guide me on the road to eternal life. We go on the Lenten journey with a trusted guide, the grace-filled, shepherding love of God that makes the investigation of Lent a joyous journey, like a child learning something thing new about their chosen hobbies. There is nothing to fear, nothing to prove and nothing to earn by cooperating with this examination.  Lenten disciplines of abstinence (fasting in various ways) and engagement (feasting on the word or worship, etc.) are actually feeding on Jesus—on his full forgiveness and all-embracing acceptance of us.

The overarching intention for Lent is growth as an apprentice of Jesus. Lenten acts of fasting and abstinence are intended to create space that leads to awareness of the things that draw our hearts away from God. In terms of our formation in Christlikeness, the investigation of Lent helps us focus on a few really decisive, spiritual questions:

  • Where have I been recently in my walk with Christ?
  • Discern: How/why did I end up here?
  • What do I (and Jesus) think and feel about where I’ve been?
  • Where am I headed now?
  • Discern: What might the path forward look like?

Lent is not meant to be morbid, grievous or self-absorbing. We enter this season with the sure knowledge of resurrection, of Easter. Thus, in Lent, like the tick-tock of a grandfather clock, we easily and smoothly shift from self-examination to the life-giving victory of Jesus already won for us, and already growing in us. This is the light at the end of the tunnel in Lent: Christus Victor! Jesus has won the battle over all the forces of darkness and evil—including those dark places that remain in us.

My little Scotty always gets a rinse and another chance to learn not to dig. He is gently reminded that he has his toys and mom has her slippers. That is completely intuitive to me. God has an even stronger, creative, wise and loving intuition toward us: an annual checkup in which that which is not well is made well…that via the Easter celebration that caps Lent, all shall be well.

Blessed Lent to you!

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Hunter is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others and founder and leader of The Telos Collective. He is past President ofAlpha USA, former National Director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA, and author of Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican, Our Favorite Sins, and Our Character at Work.