Lenten surprise

During our Lenten service this evening, I spent the majority of the service sitting with my family - something I am rarely able to do.  Though my kids may no longer acknowledge me at school or welcome my sense of humor and they often discourage my substitution of lyrics to popular songs or any hint of dancing - they got as close as they could, crawling under my arm, sharing the service book, singing together. The smell of my daughter's clean hair and the sound of my teenage son's changing voice stole my attention from the service. It was an unexpected gift of peace in the midst of chaotic and frightening news from Japan and elsewhere.  In this first week of Lent, I hope you are finding people and places of peace and new life. I'd love to hear about them.