February 18 – April 5, 2026
Companion to “Plot Twists: Stories of Unsettling Grace”

Introduction: Lent is not a race to Easter. It is an unfolding story—one that refuses to move in a straight line.

This season leads us through moments we think we understand, only to surprise us with a turn we did not see coming. Dust becomes the beginning of breath. Loss opens into life. The cross does not end the story. Grace interrupts where we expected resolution.

This year, we walk the labyrinth together—a path shaped by turns rather than shortcuts. The labyrinth does not test us or trick us; it invites us to trust the path beneath our feet. Like the parables Jesus told, it draws us forward through reversals and interruptions, teaching us that God often works through surprise rather than certainty.

As we journey through Lent, we will listen again to stories marked by plot twists: seeds scattered without guarantee, lost things found in celebration, grace that feels unfair yet proves abundant, love that grows quietly until it shelters the world. Each story begins in familiar ground and then turns, asking us to see differently and live more deeply.

The path is not meant to be hurried. You may feel turned around at times—but disorientation is often where transformation begins. In God’s time, what feels like circling becomes a deeper movement inward, and every unexpected turn becomes an invitation into grace.

Walk slowly. Pay attention to the turns. Trust the story still unfolding.

How to Use This Devotional Each day offers three simple movements:

•  Scripture: A single verse to center your attention and prayer.
• Wandering Deeper: A brief reflection or small action to guide your contemplation. Some are inward, others outward — each is an invitation, not an obligation.
•  Prayer: A few lines to speak aloud or hold in silence.