We are almost halfway through Lent. How is your Lent going? Have you been adhering to the three pillars of Lent (fasting, almsgiving, and prayer)? Do you feel yourself growing closer with God during the past couple of weeks? If you’re struggling, how do we get back on track. Let’s take a look.
Reminder of Focus Areas for Lent
if you remember back in February, I posted a number of ideas that could make your Lent a little more meaningful (click here to review. The thinking is instead of what has become somewhat of the norm (fasting from foods like candy and other sweets, coffee/tea (my God how do you wake up in the morning …:), to try fasting from negative behaviors that take you away from God as opposed to drawing nearer. Unfortunately, our day to day lives may not cooperate as much as we like and you may be struggling to engage in the extra practices you had planned for Lent. Fear not, you can always start today, or tomorrow, or any day, but please don’t give up on this. I love a quote from Mary Pickford related to time:
The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power. Supposing you have tried and failed again and again. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.
Every day and every minute is a fresh start with a clean sheet of paper to draw your life’s priorities upon. Read the last line of that quote again:
You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.
The message there is don’t give up. I realize it can be very frustrating to keep trying something only for it not to work out. I have lived this often in my life, but we need to be gentle with ourselves as God is gentle with us. Each stumble is a learning experience and by being gentle with yourself you are helping to prevent your emotions from getting in the way of your goal.
Are You Feeling Lost?
I came across what is called the Pilgrim’s Prayer from Thomas Merton:
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end….
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you,
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road, though
I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem lost in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
The part that I find very comforting is:
But I believe that the desire to please you,
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
God is with us always and knows exactly what we are going through. He never leaves us and can see our attempts to get closer to Him and I believe that “the desire to please you, does in fact please you.”
There’s Still Time Left!
There’s still time left for Lent, but remember that every day is a clean sheet of paper so don’t limit yourself to just Lent. Every day is another opportunity to get closer to God. Many times we are harder on ourselves than we are on others. At times we have expectations that are unrealistic and when we struggle we get down on ourselves. Be gentle on yourself as God never gets down on us and is always there to help dust us off and try again:
1 Peter 5: 7 – Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.
All comments are not only welcome, but encouraged. I will reply as quickly as I can.
God Bless
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