Day 13: Contractions

34 weeks. I am drawing near the end. For me, like it is for many women, the end of pregnancy is a rollercoaster of suck that culminates in the awesome, magical experience of labor and birth. I remember being pregnant with Eddie and reading books on natural laboring that described it as "orgasmic" Sign me up for one of those labors. I would describe mine as something closer to 12th century torture techniques.

My body likes to overachieve -- so it starts contracting somewhere around week 20. As I go through the last half of pregnancy, the contractions grow more painful and more frequent until I emerge out of labor with a baby in my arms. By about this time, 34 weeks, contractions are strong enough to hurt - to make me stop and breathe -- and I think -- I've still got a month ahead of me.

The fantastic overlap of Lent with the end of pregnancy means that in a very real way, I am journeying to the Cross with my Lord. Mindful of the pain that is coming. Mindful of the miracle on the otherside. Stepping painfully into it and embracing it. But I knew this journey was coming. When I saw that positive test result and looked up my due date and realized it fell just after Easter. I smiled to myself and said, God is inviting me on a special journey this lent.

Along with all the other storms and winds in life, this quiet march towards birth and re-birth at Easter is happening in my soul and every contraction serves as a reminder and an invitation to focus on things unseen.