There's a strange thing that happens near the end of a long book. You've invested hundreds of pages, but suddenly you want to set it down — not because it's bad, but because the end feels close enough to count. Lent works the same way. The temptation isn't always to quit at the beginning. It's to quit right before the end. That "good enough" feeling is a subtle lie. You haven't crossed the finish line yet. Keep reading. Easter is worth finishing well.

Growing up, I would hear "Remember, patience is a virtue." I was struck by Thomas à Kempis's insight into patience and suffering. He says the better you dispose yourself to suffer, the more wisely you act. True suffering must consider the virtue of patience and the One who will reward it. Scripture reveals patience as a reflection of God's nature. The Lord is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish. Jesus modeled patience, waiting thirty years before ministry and enduri