The ABC’s of Love: One Minute Reflections for Lent
Orleans United Church, 2025

Beginning Wednesday, March 5

In January 2024, along with many of you, I received my “Star Word” in worship at OUC.  And like many of you, I was surprised and had to process how I might embrace it in the year ahead.  My word was “LOVE.” 

I said to myself (and to Creator overhearing), “I’ve spent over a half-century trying my best to show and guide others how to live in the Spirit of love by sharing God’s goodness.  “LOVE” feels self-evident to me, so what more can I do with this word?”  

Then over the next few days, Creator kept whispering other words to me that felt strangely love-adjacent.   
And the more I listened, the more I felt I needed to start writing those words down as signposts on my path during my year-long journey.  Those daily scribbles began overflowing my little journal, so after a few months I began cataloguing them alphabetically, until a full year’s list of 366 “love-adjacent” words, capturing a multitude of Creator-inspired noticings, appeared.

I thought it might be helpful to write a brief reflection for each word to remember how they touched my heart and put me in touch with Creator’s love.  This Lenten devotional series, called “The ABC’s of Love,” includes 52 of those “love-adjacent” words in alphabetical order, plus a brief reflection and prayer for each.

Here are the first four weeks of Lent, love-adjacent words from A to Z. 
The rest will be available at the end of March.

Blessings on your Lenten journey.

Glen Stoudt, Spiritual Director
February, 2025

Week One

Ash Wednesday, March 5 – ASHES
The ancient custom of marking our foreheads with ashes invites us to humbly explore our loving relationship with God.
Help me, compassionate Saviour, to be honest with myself about the selfishness I often feel in my daily encounters.

Thursday, March 6 – BALANCE
One of life’s goals is finding balance between what we want and what we need, what we possess and what we share.
Show me, encouraging Spirit, the necessary things for me to embody your love and live a balanced life today.

Friday, March 7 – CONTEMPLATION
The spiritual practice of contemplation encourages our fuller awareness of God’s loving presence in everyday life.
Awaken me anew, Creator, to contemplate your invitation to live humbly as an expression of your goodness.

Saturday, March 8 – DISCIPLINE
In a faithful life, discipline is the act of practicing those habits which deepen our spirituality and strengthen our souls.
Bolster me, loving God – deepen my prayer experience, inspire my spiritual reflection, and expand my inner life.

First Sunday of Lent, March 9 – EXPECTATION
Lent is a journey of expectation. As these days go by, how are we expecting God’s love will be revealed to us?
Surprise me, Source of peace and kindness, and keep me attentive to your many ways of gently loving others.

Monday, March 10 – FOCUS
Divine love gives focus to our spiritual journey: noticing ways we experience it; paying attention to how we share it.
Fine-tune my receptors to welcome your compassion in my life, Heart of love, both in my receiving and my giving.

Tuesday, March 11 – GOODNESS
Wherever and however we experience goodness, we see evidence of God.  Where God is, goodness follows.
Fill me this day, Wellspring of goodness and grace, and flow through me for the sake of everyone I meet.

Week Two

Wednesday, March 12 – HUMILITY
Humility suggests a gentle, unassuming attitude, a considerate lifestyle that quietly cares for others by divine impulse.
Whisper to my longing heart, gentle Saviour, and quietly encourage me to humbly resist my selfish impulses.

Thursday, March 13 – INTUITION
Deep inside everyone dwells a sacred instinct, a spiritual hunch that stirs us to make choices which reflect God’s grace.
Animate my intuition, gracious Spirit, so I can more deeply trust in your good intentions for me.

Friday, March 14 – JOURNEY
Life is a journey, and when love guides us, we are enriched when we enrich the lives of each other along the way.
Walk with me, divine Companion, and embolden me to live love with those I meet on the path we are traveling.

Saturday, March 15 – KNEEL
Kneeling is an ancient posture of reverence and humility in prayer.  How do we “kneel” in our conversations with God?
Today I pause to honour your loving presence in my life, Holy One, and feel grateful that you welcome me as I am.

Second Sunday of Lent, March 16 – LISTEN
Attentively listening for Creator’s whisper helps us hear how we are loved, and that helps deepens our spiritual life.
My prayer today is silence, O Creator, listening for your whisper of love and embracing your peace and mercy.

Monday, March 17 – MERCY
At its heart, mercy is connection with the Divine, the bond that holds us together with all creation in the love of God.
Kind-hearted Lord, overwhelm me with your mercy, and help me feel your holy embrace deep within and all around.

Tuesday, March 18 – NUANCE
Love beckons us to read between the lines, to notice its subtle shades, hints, and traces of mercy in everyday life.
Like my own heartbeat, nuances of your compassion quietly move within me and my relationships. Thank you, God.

Week Three

Wednesday, March 19 – OPENHEARTED
When we approach each day openheartedly two things happen: We are lovingly attentive to others and we grow in our relationship with God.
“Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.  As you love may I love.”

Thursday, March 20 – PERSERVERANCE
Lent invites us to “keep on carrying on,” to walk our spiritual path of embodying and employing Christ’s love.
“As you love may I love,” living Christ, “in receiving and in giving.”  Keep me carrying on each day in your ways.

Friday, March 21 – QUIET
Finding a few minutes of quiet each day is an act of self-love, restoring our souls and deepening our relationships with Creator.
Give me pause, gracious Creator, so I may quietly receive your inspiring presence in my life today.

Saturday, March 22 – REMEMBER
Remembering those moments we have felt divine love over the years will encourage us to discover new possibilities to respond.
Quietly I remember, Spirit of love, and humbly welcome your invitation to express your love to others today.

Third Sunday of Lent, March 23 – SABBATH
“Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”  Holiness is divine love fully embraced both at rest and in action.
Lord of Sabbath, sensitize me to fully embrace this day in body, mind and spirit, living love as my deepest desire.

Monday, March 24 – TENDERNESS
This gentle quality of loving relationships suggests intimacy, thoughtfulness and affection, with God and each other.
Enfold me in your love, tender God, and stimulate me in my relationships with those I meet today.

Tuesday, March 25 - UNSELFISH
Living unselfishly is a spiritual desire to become our true God-inspired selves.
Giver of all good gifts, free me from self-obsession so I can freely share your gifts with others in my daily journey.

Week Four

Wednesday, March 26 – VOTIVE
Like candles, votives are freewill offerings we make on behalf of others in devotion to God. How can we live as votives?
Again today, I offer my best intentions to you, loving Creator, as a votive offering on behalf of all your creation.

Thursday, March 27 – WELLBEING
We long for wellbeing in life, that spiritual sense of wholeness – peace, empathy, benevolence and gratitude.
May it be so, Spirit of life. Encourage me to deepen my sense of wholeness by fostering the wellbeing of others.

Friday, March 28 – XYLOGRAPH
This ancient artform creates an image by carving into a block of wood, an intricate and delicate act of the artist’s love.
Thank you, holy Xylographer, for gently whittling away those unhelpful parts of my life so I can become who I am meant to be.

Saturday, March 29 – YEARN
The feeling of desiring and longing for goodness is spiritual.  “Blessed are we who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” 
I yearn for your affirmation, gracious God, and trust in your promise that, when I choose right living, I will be filled.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 30 – ZEAL
Zeal is enthusiasm.  And the ancient Greek roots of enthusiasm are “en Theos,” in God.  May our lives be filled with zeal!
Fill me with zeal in you, Theos.  Inspire me to love others as you love me.  Make me an enthusiastic channel of peace.