Here we are in Lent, a time of fasting and reflection. I’m sure many of you have heard of Lent, but don’t necessarily participate in it or even know much about it. What if I mention Fat Tuesday? A whole different story, right? Let us not forget our paczkis! A day devoted to luscious jelly filled pastries? Heck yeah! Forget about that it’s a predecessor to one of the two days a year that Christians fast, Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, we receive ashes (which are burnt palms from the prior year’s Palm Sunday), in the form of a cross on our forehead. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. It symbolizes our repentance and our mortality. Many Christians also abstain from meat on the Fridays during the forty days of Lent. It’s designed to prepare us for Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Many people give up things during Lent. I used to, now I prefer to do something instead. This year I’m choosing sharing Holy Moments. In Matthew Kelly’s book Holy Moments, he describes holy moments as ‘a single moment in which you open yourself to God. You make yourself available to Him. You set aside personal preference and self-interest, and for one moment you do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do.’ Several cool things inside of this. First off, making yourself available to Him, in other words, be quiet and listen. So often, if we talk with God at all, it’s giving Him a to-do list of all of the things we’d like Him to do for us. Instead, try asking, what would you like from me today? Then, be quiet and listen. Often, a thought or a person will cross my mind. It might be someone to help with something or someone who may be lonely that I could call and have a chat. Just taking a pause sometimes is a good thing to do. In a crazy, fast-paced world, having a little quiet time can be restorative and peaceful and spiritual.
As a society in general, we do a poor job of taking care of ourselves. We have poor eating habits, too much self-medicating, way too much technology stimulation, and not enough exercise and rest and relaxation, and often even less time in any kind of spiritual pursuit. I’m not trying to dictate how anyone should live their life, but I am suggesting slowing down, at least every once in a while. I have found it has made a huge difference for me. I feel so much calmer and at peace than when I was constantly at full throttle.
At this point of my life, the last third, I am focusing on being in the best health and shape that I can possibly be. I want to enjoy this phase and be able to remain active and still do the things I love to do, like hiking and bicycling. I also want to have a closer connection to God. One can do this at any time. Lent, to me, is just a lovely time to focus on this. I have chosen Holy Moments. If you would like to check it out, you can search on YouTube: Best Lent Ever 2023, Holy Moments, Matthew Kelly. Whatever you decide, I invite you to pick one area where you can take better care of yourself. Also, look for where you can create a holy moment for someone in your life. It not only makes a difference for them, but It will make you happier. Similarly, to on Christmas when you give that gift that lights someone up, you feel as happy or maybe even happier than they do. That’s what holy moments can create. We could build a pay it forward momentum that could ultimately change the world for the better.