On Ash Wednesday, we are marked with the sign of the cross, made from ashes, and challenged to, "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return". Think about that for a moment. It's a sobering thought. We are only here on earth for a short period of time. In God's time, it's a mere blink of His eye or a single heartbeat, a mere second. Thankfully for us, His "second" may translate into many years for us, but that is never a guarantee. We will eventually die, but we never know when our time will come. Although we should be aware of our mortality every day, Lent is an excellent time to take stock of our lives and ask the hard questions. Are we living to our full potential? Are we using our talents in the best way we can? What is our ultimate goal in life? What mark do we want to leave behind? Are we allowing ourselves to achieve our potential or are other things getting in our way? It's a hard thing to ponder our shortcomings and faults, but it's something we all must do if we want to improve on our weaknesses and imperfections. If we are aware of these things, it's easier to overcome them.
Another very important tradition during Lent is to sacrifice. We may give up chocolate or caffeine or television. Our sacrifice isn't something that should be easy. It should be a little painful, reminding us all of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. Denying ourself can tell us about our self-control, obedience, patience, and discipline. In the past, I've tried to give up many things. Some years have been successful, and other have not. If nothing else, it's shown me how weak I really am, how fragile my willpower can be. It's in these times that I've learned to lean on my Father for extra strength and support. If I can do this with smaller needs, I'll remember to seek Him when times are really tough and things aren't going as I'd like.
We're also called to give to others, whether it be monetarily or of our time. To love others as we love ourselves, and to treat them as we wish to be treated. We are called and challenged to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, visit the sick, comfort the sorrowful, be patient wih others, and forgive those who hurt us. Ideally, this should be something we do all the time, but it's nice to refocus our efforts during Lent, making sure we are doing all that we can. As a family, we've sacrificed "treats" (coffee, ice cream, soda) that we normally allow ourselves, and instead, we've used the money to donate to a worthy cause. We've volunteered in a soup kitchen, making the food, serving the peope that came in, and cleaning up afterward. We've volunteered at the local food pantry. This is something that my son still does with his uncle every week. These may seem like small things, but Mother Teresa reminded us, "do small things with great love". Instead of only thinking of ourselves, we need to learn to turn our focus outward, to concentrate on the plights and needs of others.
Focusing on our faith, sacrificing, and giving alms are all important parts of celebrating Lent and preparing us for Easter. Is this journey hard? Yes. Change is always hard. Will we fumble along the way? Yes. We will fumble, and then we will try again. Is it worth it? Yes! Yes! Yes!
With all this in mind, I wish you all a blessed Lenten journey. I hope it's filled with enlightenment and growth.
Until next time, wishing you Peace and All Good!
Joyce
As I was working on this last night, I came across a Franciscan Benediction. I was drawn to it because it challenges us in many ways we're not prepared or always willing to do. It reminds us to be aware of the world around us and be mindful of the needs of others. It challenges us to do better, love better, and live better. I think this is a fitting reminder to us all as we celebrate Lent.
The Blessing of Discomfort
May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
And turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen
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