Becoming Real: 40 Days with the Velveteen Rabbit

What follows, in this post and several others, are the words of a Lent Course I wrote in 2010.  Though titled a Lent Course it may be useful to read at other time

Day 1 – Ash Wednesday – Wednesday 17th February 2010

To Read:

There was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid.  He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen. 

On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy’s stocking, with a sprig of holly between his paws, the effect was charming.

from The Velveteen Rabbit
by Margery Williams 

To Reflect:

I have never been able to feel too mournful about the beginning of Lent. I know I should major on penitence and reparation – and I do try to put to right things that I have done wrong and take up duties that I have neglected – but Lent (and it’s winter twin Advent) more often give me opportunities for joy.

I find it amazing that again and again God comes to us and invites us to start the pilgrimage once more. No matter how much we have faltered and failed in the past God is always ready and waiting for us to walk the road to Easter.

Like the brand new rabbit under the Christmas tree today (especially once we have been reminded of God’s loving forgiveness in Ash Wednesday worship) is a day to be ‘really splendid’! Our resolution and promises for Lent are at the strongest today and today is the day to give ourselves to God as a present to be used in his service.

As we journey this Lent we will find that it is not so much about what we do for God – though our acts of devotion will call us to be closer to God – but what God does for us. So it is, as we sit with a sprig of holly between our paws, we can look to the journey ahead with joy knowing that all that awaits us is forty glorious days and nights of being loved by God.

Have a joy-filled Lent!

To Pray:

Father in Heaven,
the light of your truth bestows sight

to the darkness of sinful eyes.
May this season of repentance

bring us the blessing of your forgiveness
and the gift of your light.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

© Andrew Dotchin – 2018