How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

These words by Elizabeth Barrett Browning serve as a compass as I prepare this mediation on Lent and God’s love in Jesus.

It was only a few years ago that I would learn that we get our word, “Lent,” from the words “To lengthen.” Ah spring, the days are getting longer, the temperatures are warming, the trees are budding. In our hemisphere at least, it is a time of growing. I’d like to think that Lent is a similar time.

As we prepare for Easter, Lent, which was originally a time of catechesis for new Christians, is a time to focus on the sacrifices made by our Lord Jesus, leading to his greatest sacrifice upon Calvary’s Cross.

Indeed in Jesus, we see the love of the God.

Reformer Martin Luther received wise counsel from his confessor Dr. Staupitz while in the monastery. “Look at the wounds of Christ and the blood he shed for you, from these your election will shine forth.”

During this Lenten time, may there be a lengthening of and deepening and a broadening of our lives and our living for other. Take time each day in prayer asking God for the divine will to transform you. Spend time in holy Scripture asking God’s word to point you to the living Word Jesus. Consider how you may be living for others. Is there a friend going through a difficult time? Is there a neighbor that doesn’t know Jesus? Is there a food pantry/charity that could use both your time and earthly treasure?

In this month we will celebrate St. Patty’s Day. My Mom, born over a German baker shop in Jersey City, couldn’t claim Irish blood. March 17, however was her birthday, so the whole house went green. It was a stretch to call herself Irish that day, but she did. She also made our home welcome to all, stretching beyond the limits of nationality, race or gender. “Treat everyone the same way going up” was her counsel, “you’re going to meet them coming down.”

I had a retirement gig at Walmart, and before we unloaded trucks there were “The Walmart Stretches.” Exercises you would do before physical exertions. They saved many an aching back. Think of the disciplines we learn during Lent as those which help you to better love, honor and serve the Creator in thought, word and deed. Allow me to offer one for you.

While at Muhlenberg College in the ’70s we would gather every Thursday night for a guitar service of holy communion. One thing I learned, was, each time we sang “Amazing Grace,” we would end it by simply singing the words “Praise God” over and over again until we finished the tune. (Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise God …) It became the last verse. Over the years I harken back to that, especially in “crunch times.” The next time you’ve been demeaned, or stuck in traffic or have to make a presentation, consider using that “Praise God” as centering technique.

God stretches through the cosmos to love us each and every one of us. When I consider our world and all that God has created, my problems start to shrink as my love and awe for God grows. Our Earth is so large, yet millions of them would not fill the space occupied by our Sun. Our world is so broad, but it would take 12 of them laid side by side to equal the size of the planet Jupiter.

Our problems and sins may seem so large, but God’s grace and the sacrifice of Jesus makes stretches well beyond their limitations. This Lent and every day consider how to God has stretched and how you may, too. Allow his promise, power and primacy into your lives to stretch you to be more loving, caring and forgiving. May we all be lengthened this Lent.

Stretch time, folks, “And a-one and a-two and a-”

The Rev. John Hazel Jr. is a retired pastor who lives in Palmerton.