Over the past many months, artists from around the world have been transforming our city walls into giant works of art here in Gainesville, Florida. 352walls has transformed many of our downtown buildings into eye-catching, mind blowing and head scratching murals that have done much to inspire the imagination and spark the curiosity of the on-looker. If you haven’t yet done so, it is worth an afternoon to stroll through the downtown blocks and check out the art. It’s pretty incredible.

I am a bit astonished that our city leaders were so willing to turn over giant, blank canvases of brick and concrete to international artists, who, I am told, were given no restrictions in what they could create, and instead were encouraged to be creative, to capture our imaginations, and to inspire the creative energy in our community through their work.
I am also inspired by those artists, willing to take on the responsibility of transforming our community into a giant gallery place, knowing that their creations would be praised or ridiculed until the next chosen artist comes along.

I can’t help but wonder… if I were given an opportunity such as this, what would my mural be?

Exactly one week from today we enter into the season of Lent. With ashes on our forehead, we are told that, “from the dust we have been created and to the dust we shall return.” It’s a kind of theological dare to take the 40 day march to Good Friday and Easter a little more seriously, and to consider deeply what we are creating with our lives. Are we a people of love? Have we inspired awe? Do we model charity and grace for others? Are there places we need to seek forgiveness?

Lent, in some ways, is a blank canvas; an opportunity for us to create something new within our heart and soul. Lent is a time of thoughtful reflection, of spiritual deepening and of intentional journeying to a place of newness- of rebirth- of resurrection.

As we consider what shape our Lenten journey will take this year, my hope is that you will seize this opportunity to be bold and brave, and to create an inspiring vision that will bring out your most daring and courageous self.

Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew within me a steadfast spirit.”

Breath prayer: Create/Renew