So I haven’t blogged in a while. While there are millions
(okay more like 3 or 4) excuses I could give, I don’t want to. Regardless of my
excuse, the truth of the matter is that I haven’t been making as much time for Adoration
(I write these posts there) this year as I did last year. Fortunately, Lent
starts tomorrow. Yes, read that last sentence again, I said fortunately. I know this is what you’re thinking:
(Yes I am pretty sure I have used this clip before)
Here are a few reasons why I like Lent:
1)The end results in great joy! (Easter)
2)It brings awareness to spiritual dryness.
3)It allows for the opportunity to exercise and
improve self-discipline.
In this post, I would like to focus on the last two reasons.
Lent has been a good time for me to realize where I am dry spiritually. Am I
going to Mass every week? Am I praying every day? Am I studying Scripture?
These are some of the questions I ask myself. Some of my answers are a resounding
YES! Others are a meh I am lacking in that department. Lent is also super
structured, which makes it somewhat easier to self-discipline. It’s easier to
try and change your life for 40 days rather than forever. 40 days, however, is
a great amount of time for keeping habits that promote spiritual growth. I know you’re thinking yay spiritual growth,
but how do I utilize Lent for this? It helps to think of Lent in three tiers:
1) Prayer
2) Fasting
3) Almsgiving
So let’s start with the first one: prayer. How can I pray
more? Do I pray? How often? After examining where you need improvement, make a detailed
plan (Example to follow). Point numero dos: fasting. This is the popular one.
The question is not to be or not to be, but rather, what to give up? Whether
tis nobler in the mind to suffer the wants and cravings of decadent chocolate,
or to take arms against a sailor’s mouth? But I digress. I posed this question
to my third graders, and of course the initial response was school. I can’t
really blame them, that was my answer when I was their age. There is some
criteria that should be applied when choosing a sacrifice:
1)
It must be meaningful. Example: Do not give up Xbox
when you have never played one.
2)
It should inspire prayer. Will giving this up be
noticeable to me?
3)
It should NOT hinder your vocation. Now, we
could choose to give up all food and water, but that would end poorly and you
probably wouldn’t last 40 days. It may fit the other two criteria, but if it
doesn’t fit this one, don’t do it. God has a mission for all of us, but when
you CHOOSE to starve yourself to deterioration, that hinders your ability to
fulfil the mission. Sacrifices are hard, but either look at what BAD habits you
have (swearing perhaps?) or what will inconvenience you, but not hinder you (
chocolate perhaps?).
Now for the third point. Almsgiving! This is just a fancy
word for charity. We are called to have servant hearts. How can we serve? Who
needs our help? This could be a wide range of things. From donating to
volunteering, from neighbors to a big organization, anything counts.
Now I
have covered each point! Yay! As promised, I will do an example of what I am
doing. It would be quite hypocritical to suggest all these things, and not do
them myself! How silly!
1)
Prayer: I lack in formal DAILY prayer. Thus, I
will begin the day with Divine Mercy Chaplet and end the day with the Rosary.
2) Fasting: I love chocolate and cheese, so I will
eat a vegan diet (I am already vegetarian)
3) I will volunteer where I haven’t before (I know,
not very detailed, but I will have a detailed plan once I finish
troubleshooting class hours with organizations).
Side goal! Go to Adoration every week again!
There you have it! The loveliness of Lent! Lent is such a
great time for spiritual growth because we are in what is a somewhat chosen
hardship. We choose what we want to sacrifice, and we grow closer to God. This
helps us to be more willing to grow closer to God when we are in an unchosen
hardship, such as the death of a loved one. Jesus endured 40 days in the
desert, and then went on later to die for all of our sins. Meaning, He
understands how difficult Lent and suffering can be, since He went through the
ultimate versions of each Himself. So trust Him. Grow closer to Him. Embrace
Lent as an opportunity.
Keep
loving Lent!
Your Sister In Christ,
Dani
