Lent is coming. I am sure you all know that.
But here is my question...
How will I make this LENT awesome for me? Notice first, that I say for "me." That's because I couldn't possibly know what will make Lent awesome for you.
There has been a rough campaign the past few years regarding the "Giving Up" things for lent. It seems to me that people are abandoning the idea that forgoing Chocolate will bring you closer to Jesus.
I say Hog Wash.
The last time I gave up Chocolate for lent, it left me on my knees in tears, begging for mercy. It was definitely a spiritual exercise for me on needs versus wants. Chocolate is a definitive need for me.
Honestly though, I think that fasting from all sorts of things can bring Jesus and all his suffering to the forefront of our minds. I mean there is nothing more humbling for me, than crying over no coffee mate in my coffee, and then remembering all the sacrifices others made for my sake.
Jesus' sacrifice of course, strengthens my resolve towards black coffee. But my small sacrifice also reminds me of the sacrifices Mary had to make for my sake, the sacrifices of all those wonderful Priests and Religious I have encountered in my life, and the sacrifices my own parents made for my sake.
So giving up things for Lent is still on my list of possible ways to make it awesome.
A lot of Catholics I know are also big fans of the "Adding" to their routines during lent. They may add daily mass to their normal Sunday ritual or saying a rosary during the day a few times a week, or even daily, is a good way to strengthen faith. Indeed.
I have been trying to pray a rosary a day for the past year - (I have a HUGE personal intention, that I am looking forward to.) I have to say, in addition to bringing me peace, this 15 minutes each day, seems to keep me more positive focused. (A rosary a day keeps the demons away? - I'm sure that is probably a "thing")
I have also thought of a few unorthadox Lenten habits that could turn an ordinary 40 days into something special.
How about hand written thank you letter or I'm sorry note to a specific person that I actually SEND every day? (I have issues with writing but then forgetting to send thank you notes.) (You do too? No way!)
I would also like to consider reading at LEAST one biography, or auto biography of a Saint. I have started a few of these, and they are so RICH in lessons. But then I never get past a few chapters because I start contemplating all the richness. SO far I am working on most of the Theresas. They are all good. If you don't know much about any of them, another great source is the book, The Four Teresas.
Whatever I decide to do, I decided I AM going to make this lent AWESOME. We still have a few more weeks to prepare.
Here are some resources, check them out and start thinking about how you are going to make YOUR lent AWESOME this year. Ash Wednesday is March 1st!!!
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