17 February 2010

Ashes, ashes we all fall down

We are called, when we attend Ash Wednesday liturgies, to a "holy Lent." Our prayerbooks call this a season of special devotions and fasting.

Be good to yourselves. Yes do something special, more prayers, more church attendance, more loving interaction with family, congregation and friends. But not the old idea from sister Mary Goodshoes that you have to give something like ice cream up. If you are going to give something up consider anger, hate and dishonesty as candidates.

I shall be adding another praying of the rosary, with a special intention for more kindness. Yes I need a job but God knows that. We are as a family going to be meatless for Fridays and Wednesdays. That is perhaps less sacrificial than it might sound as I am a decent vegetarian cook.

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we screw up. We all fall down. This is a day and a season to remember and resolve. We can leave the silly self-abusing guilt trips to others and try to help them find new paths.

FWIW
jimB

3 comments:

Christal said...

For lent, I am resolving to listen more closely to the voice of God instead of my own. Does anyone else have any resolutions?

Brad Evans said...

Sorry, but I don't follow. I don't see the need to run twice as fast for forty days knowing that I'm not going to be able to do anything more than I already am doing.

JimB said...

Brad,

My long ago spiritual director used to tell me that the reason to pray is to become more like a person who prays. That is NOT a paradox but it is the road map of experience.

FWIW
jimB

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