It’s the Lenten season, a time for reflection and pause. How each one of us does that is different, albeit there are some typical things that people do during this time before Easter. Some of us may fast, give much loved things up, enter in a period of mindfulness as we enter this period of 40 days.

Each morning, I’ve tried to send out a morning meditation, hoping that at least one person will give thought to it and, as I like to say, think on it. It only takes a few minutes, and if you’re good, maybe less than one minute. For me the point is that we often go through the day with activities that propel us this way and that without a moment of reflection or meditation.

Yesterday, for example, I was talking with students about stress, and how irritatingly normal stress is. It’s our response to stress that exacerbates what would probably be a slight bump in the road and turns it into OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING! EVERYONE STOP! IT’S SO TERRIBLE! It’s not. Hang on.

Taking a second to catch your breath and get a grip can be one of the most powerful things you can do. I asked the students to think about what are some of the coping mechanisms they use when they get stressed out. They shouted (love that): Exercise! Get some sleep (but not too much)! Talk it out! Be with friends! Meditate! The power of reflection is in there somewhere, slowing down the crushing stress into manageable pieces. The beauty of pausing, even for a breath, is that you are so much in control, even when it feels like you are spiraling. Even when you can’t find that anchor to keep you steady, there are wonderful people all around you here to help. You might not even know it, but yes, we’re here.

As we enter Lent, I’m hoping that we are able to stop in the middle of it all and think things through, to not turn ant hills into mountains, to reflect, to pause, and to be grateful for how far we’ve come and how the journey will take us further, if only, one step at a time.

Charlene