Hear the post above:
"We must learn to view change as a natural phenomenon -
to anticipate it and to plan for it. The future is ours to channel in the
direction we want to go... we must continually ask ourselves, 'What will happen
if...?' or better still, 'How can we make it happen?' "
- Lisa Taylor
During Lent, in solidarity of the wilderness walk, people
give up or promise to add something to their lives to enhance it. Anything from
avoiding chocolate, to not playing Bejeweled Blitz, not checking FB or just
adding 10 minutes of prayer daily are promises made. They are almost like
New Year's resolutions with an extra spiritual focus. Sometimes the task is
daunting, while other times an easy feat that requires attention to detail.
Regardless, it grows and molds us, refining our commitments to self and others.
About a week into the program, it has become second nature.
Sure the sacrificed item is mourned, but truth of the matter is that time moves
us beyond our initial fears of doing without. What becomes most
fascinating then is the response from others who can not seem to fathom how the
sacrifice can be kept. Moreover, about a week in, we see what drove us to
eat or do that activity before. Realizing how previously our cars would
mysteriously end up at the McDonald's driveway to order fries after a
particularly difficult day allows us to see how much we relied on fried foods
in times of stress.
As the good habits start to form, our spiritual world
shifts, providing a fuller understanding of ourselves. We pour out a
little in order to be filled and, even if we don't notice it at first, the
process becomes richer. We embrace the challenge, grabbing it in our arms
and pulling it close, to not let anything stand between us.
When Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane praying to take
the cup from him, in his weakness, an angel comes to strengthen him. “Then
an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength” (Luke 22:43). It is in this moment he fully wanted to
give up the fate that would save so many, Jesus was given the tools to
grow. Such is the same for
us as we maneuver our Lenten journey.
Continue, this week, fully accepting the benefit of your Lenten
challenge, considering it as the beginning of a lifestyle change. And when there’s a moment of weakness,
know that angels will come to strengthen you.
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