On Friday, I decided to get moving and clean the house. I began with one of my favorite jobs - dusting. This job has great satisfaction, since I can see the dust being swept, vacuumed, or polished away. I always feel accomplished when I get this job done because I can see the evidence of meeting my goal.
This is very different than the experience we may have with our own spiritual development and growth. Typically, we don’t “visibly see” the fruits of our labor. We may have forgotten what our soul looked like when we began our spiritual journeys. We tend to compare our spiritual journey’s beginning to someone else’s middle (or end). Or we can tire from all the false starts / half-starts in life.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning of Lent, and for many, a fresh start at spiritual practices to broaden and deepen our connection to God. Many will begin “giving up” or “starting over” health, emotional, devotional, or other practices to enhance life.
As you contemplate and discern which path to take this Lenten Season towards God, I encourage you to take time to reflect on these three quotes, answering the questions: “What is God saying to me? How might I respond?”
“Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny his very self, take up the cross each day, and follow in My steps" Luke 9:23.
“Ash Wednesday is full of joy … The source of all sorrow is the illusion that of ourselves we are anything but dust” Father Thomas Merton.
“Lent comes providentially to awaken us, to shake us from our lethargy” Pope Francis.
May this time of Lent help us see progress we have made and challenge us to continue progressing along our spiritual journeys!
Prayer: “During these 40 days, let me put away all my pride. Let me change my heart and give up all that is not good within me. Let me love God with all that I am and all that I have. Amen” (Prayer by Genesis Grain).