A New Hope

"Sometimes our best efforts do not go amiss;
sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you."
-"Sometimes" by Sheenagh Pugh

This poem was the benediction for a new church I attended today, the United Church of Gainesville. I had been wanting to try it for a while and, after reluctantly getting out of bed this morning, I left with wet hair and my Dunkin Donuts travel cup o' coffee (new Christopher Bean kona blend coffee, yum) to get to the church right on time. It was lovely. I loved this poem, I loved the call to worship (another poem by Anne Sexton), and the songs we sang (including "What a Wonderful World"). The sermon was filled with humour yet insightful and relevant. I think I may have found a church home! Everyone there was so welcoming and friendly (even the pastor recognized me as new), and they even have a choir! And most importantly, when I was there, I felt the presence of God.

I think it's sort of interesting that my spiritual life is reviving right before Lent. Interesting because of where I'm at in my life right now and what I would like to change. I still have a lot to learn about what it means, but today I read this quote:

"Lent beckons us to consider what matters the most, those questions about meaning and purpose and values. So begin here: Who are you becoming? What do you need to let go of? What do you need to go toward?"
-Frederick Buechner, From Death to Life

Sounds about right.

*Special thanks to Spike TV channel for currently airing Star Wars: A New Hope and providing inspiration for this blog title. :)