A Lenten Reflection by Debbie Ackerman

March 16, 2022

A New Perspective on Planning & Preparation

By both nature and nurture I am a planner. I'm organized and make plans for the future days, weeks and months ahead of time. I plan for worst and best case scenarios and everything in-between. In my work I move quickly between projects. The pace of my workday does not leave time for my mind to process and reflect on one meeting before I launch into the next. I often encourage other leaders to carve out time for planning and reflection, only to realize later that I only allow for the planning in my own schedule. I make preparations for so many different things in my life between work, family, volunteer event planning, and social engagements, that I fail to make plans for reflection. In some phases of my life I have planned my day so tightly that I have forgotten to plan to breathe. In this season of life I have been aiming to be more intentional, to practice mindfulness, to focus on gratitude, and to plan time for reflection. It still doesn't come naturally to me, but I'm working on it.

In this season of Lent, this season of intentionality and reflection in the church, how can I slow down the other planning in my life to prepare for Easter? How can I used this time to shift my habits and practice to support a meaningful engagement with reflection? How can I see Lent as an opportunity and not an obligation?

I will use these 40 days to be intentional in my planning to include time for prayer, time for reflection on each day and to respond to opportunities for kindness and giving. To build small habits that lead me closer to God out of a desire to go deeper in my faith journey and not out of obligation. I invite you to consider what preparations you can make for your Easter.