Have you been feeling down lately? January can be tough here in Midcoast Maine. Beyond the usual cold and snow, we have been through two unusual rainstorms. High winds, high tides, and a new moon caused flooding and destroyed docks and waterfront property. Plus, COVID is still lingering, even if less deadly. Many of you have had “The Cold,” the one that hangs around for a week or two. I’ve presided over two funerals this month and currently have people in three different hospitals in Damariscotta, Brunswick, and Portland. I miss kayaking in January and all the friends and neighbors who leave Maine for Florida this time of year. Even most of our restaurants will stay closed till Easter.

We need something uplifting this time of year, and soon, Lent will begin on Feb. 14. (Note: this means Ash Wednesday is also on Valentine’s Day. I guess that means I will make a heart shape on everyone’s forehead with ashes that Wednesday.) Lent may not register to you as a joyful or uplifting time of year. For centuries, the Christian tradition is to give something up for Lent. We go without something like sugar, coffee, alcohol, or social media for 40 days to make room for God in our lives. We rise up and do things out of love for the people and things that matter most.

Giving things up can be a good practice, but there is a deeper meaning than simply depriving ourselves of something we like, which will somehow make us better people. To be honest, I think we overdo the sacrifice theme during Lent. Sacrifice can be a virtue, but I see many people sacrificing much these days. I see people working two jobs to make ends meet, sacrificing rest and time with family. Many people are caregivers for spouses or parents; others are carrying the burdens of grief. Giving up one more thing, even as a religious practice, may not be what we really need right now.

What if we considered Lent a time when we prepare to be lifted up by the Divine? And because God lifts up our hearts, we rise up and do things out of love for the people and things that matter most. After all, Lent is a prelude to Easter, the celebration of Christ’s rising. How can some of our traditional Lenten practices prepare us to rise? Lent doesn’t have to add another burden, but it can be a time to lay down burdens. What can you lay down that will allow you to rise up? I can think of a lot of things. I need to lay down habitual practices of worry and anxiety. I could also let go of some perfectionism. I don’t think of myself as judgmental, but if I pay attention, it certainly creeps in. These things weigh down the soul and make it hard to rise up and be fully alive. Letting go of negative habits and attitudes makes room to breathe and our souls to expand.

My symbol for this Lent is a hot air balloon. (I know you were expecting a cross, but we will get to that later in Holy Week.) A hot air balloon rises because the air inside is lighter than the air outside, so it becomes more buoyant and rises. As the pilot heats the air with a flame, the warmer air inside the balloon will rise, and by lowering the flame, the temperature drops, and the balloon gets heavier and comes down.   

How does the air inside you feel, heavy or light? What would help you feel lighter inside? What burden would you like to release? One of my favorite scriptures is Jesus saying, “Come to me all who are heavy laden and weighed down, and I will give you rest.” If you drive by the Congregational Church and see our banner with hot air balloons, remember to let something go you don’t need. And if you want to come inside, we will work together to make our burdens lighter.  

We hope you will join us for Lent and Easter this season at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor at 125 Townsend Avenue. We worship at 10 a.m. every Sunday. We have an Ash Wednesday Service on Feb. 14 at 10 a.m., a Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service on March 28 at 7 p.m., an Easter Sunrise Service on March 31 at 6 a.m. at the Maine State Aquarium on McKown Point, and the Easter Service at 10 a.m. The Sunday School will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt that is pretty spectacular; bring your kids! Everyone is welcome!