Lent is a time for us all to look at our spiritual lives, evaluate our relationship with God and to see how we fit into bringing the kingdom of God into this world.

This Lenten season comes at a time when our world is in turmoil. It isn’t difficult to find people in need this year. The cost of heating homes has been difficult this year. The cost of going to the grocery store continues to be a challenge. When we look globally, we see a world facing a potential energy crisis, amidst extreme political turmoil and armed conflict.

Through Lent we’ve renewed our commitment to God through our various practices and we can continue our commitment past Lent. If we’re able to continue our almsgiving, there are many ways to help others, both monetarily and by donating our time. This year, our Lenten themes of penitence and prayer are especially needed.

Penitence is the feeling of deep sorrow for sins or mistakes, and the desire to change, and seek forgiveness. This feeling of sorrow often comes from the way in which we interact with each other. What this world needs most, is for people to treat each other better.

We’re all capable of treating others better… it’s just something that we need to consciously do. It can be as simple as holding the door at a restaurant for someone coming out with their hands full; or returning a shopping cart for someone; or, one of my favorites, wishing a stranger “Good morning” or “Have a nice day.” If we focus more on these small things, we’ll be surprised to find how much less we’ll need to ask for forgiveness over how we’ve treated people. Penitence goes beyond us, though.

The most important Lenten practice to carry forward, is one that affects the entire world and ties in with penitence. That practice is prayer. I heard someone once say that they didn’t know how to pray. Surprise! There is no wrong way to pray.

I told them to just picture that God is there with you and start a conversation. You can also just address God, speak your concerns and finish with Amen.

Take your time and you’ll be surprised how the words will come to you. Rest assured, too, that it gets easier the more you do it. For you prayer veterans out there, I’m probably just preaching to the choir.

Now, here’s where you will affect the whole world. Your prayers can be about anything and anyone.

The tie to penitence comes in, when you ask for others to see the wrongs of their actions; and for them to ask God for forgiveness. You can also ask for protection for all the innocent victims of the ongoing wars in our world. Ask for help for those who are suffering in the world. It’s your prayers that can carry from Lent, and call on God to bring peace, through the actions of those in power, in this world. In John 11:38-44 we hear of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

These seven verses bring us a story that tells of the incredible power that God has. If Jesus can bring someone back from the dead… He can certainly bring peace to this world… However, we do need to ask!

May God’s peace and comfort be with us all.

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Pastor Gary Shumway of Garman Lutheran Church in Pine Creek and Grace Lutheran Church in Jersey Shore.