Lent 2025: Third Sunday of Lent

Flannel Diaries
Mar 23
3 min read

It’s time for the annual spring cleaning. I like to think of it as a metaphorical cleansing of the soul. It reminds me of a scene from Bruce Almighty, where Bruce, after granting everyone’s prayers and creating chaos, turns to God (Morgan Freeman) for help. Instead of fixing everything for Bruce, God hands him a mop and says, "No matter how filthy something gets, you can always clean it right up." Bruce protests, saying he simply gave people what they wanted. To which God replies, "But since when do people have a clue about what they want?... Everybody wants me to do everything for them. The truth is, what they don't realize is they have the power. If you want to see a miracle, be the miracle."

We have always had the power within us to change our own lives, no matter how messy things get. A little help from friends doesn’t hurt either.

When I look at the division in this country, I’m not surprised by how absurd it all is. The mess we’re in stems from leaders who care more about their bottom line than saving humanity—leaders who see sacrificing groups of people as acceptable because it doesn’t directly affect them. But I refuse to be part of that negativity. Instead, I ask: How do we bring light back into the world? Not in the way of an electrician, but by being the miracle ourselves. Now more than ever, we need people to step up. We need to be the heroes of our own stories, not the villains in someone else’s.

Lately, I’ve been reading books where the protagonist discovers old love letters, and it’s made me realize how much romance has changed. We used to take time to craft letters filled with longing and poetry. Now, it’s just: "Hey, what are you doing?" instead of "I’ve been waiting with bated breath for your text. It has been a fortnight, and I cannot sleep without dreaming of you." Maybe we should all channel our inner Jane Austen and write poetry to woo people instead of relying on modern dating tactics.

There’s constant discourse about how dating in 2025 is a disaster. Reality dating shows, particularly those where engagements end over political differences, only reinforce how problematic our dating culture has become. Yet, sapphic dating seems to move at a different pace—lesbians are notorious for moving fast in relationships. My friends and family have even advised me that maybe I shouldn’t be dating right now… or ever. Should I be concerned?

Here’s my love poem to my social media fam:

It’s okay to not be okay,

But it’s never okay to be cruel.

Kindness costs nothing, yet it is priceless.

Be good. Be just. Be true.

I’ll love you across oceans and time,

Through seasons of sorrow and joy.

You are seen. You are heard.

You matter.

Stand for justice, speak for the silent,

Lift each other up when the world pushes down.

We are stronger when we stand together.

We are brighter when we refuse to dim our light.

If we ever get it together,

I’ll buy you a beer.

We can sit under the stars,

And wonder how we ever made it this far.

But for now, keep going.

Keep believing.

Keep fighting for what is right.

And whatever you do…

Don’t be a dick.

Lenten Reflection:

Lent is a time of cleansing, both spiritually and emotionally. Just as we declutter our homes, we must also declutter our hearts—removing bitterness, resentment, and despair, replacing them with faith, kindness, and hope. Like Jesus cleansing the temple, we must clear out what is not serving us, making room for renewal.

As we reflect this Lent, here are some questions to ask ourselves:

What clutter am I holding onto in my heart that I need to let go of?

Where in my life do I need to seek healing and reconciliation?

How can I be a light to those around me?

What small act of kindness can I do today that might make a difference in someone’s life?

Scripture for the Third Sunday of Lent:

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” — John 4:13-14