Looking forward to Lent

Ash Wednesday is only one week away.

After feeling like I dropped the ball at Christmas -- I arrived at the beautiful holiday feeling exhausted rather than nourished and full of cheer -- I am looking forward to Lent for some redemption.  It is a fitting time of year to look for that, after all.

Instead of hunting down presents and running to get things wrapped, I want to hunt down some quiet time, and run to the Lord.

I've inherited some beautiful religious books from my Grandma.  I'm hoping to read them instead of the Internet.  She loved to underline, and even took some notes.  This all makes her feel so very close.

I also want to do some writing.  Lent marks one year since I committed myself more wholeheartedly to this blog.  I'm hoping to continue blogging, although I cannot say yet how regularly I will post here.

I have some questions I would like to pose to the Lord.  And then, I simply hope to listen, for when and how He wants to answer.

Today I was listening to Ave Maria Radio, and Sister Ann Shields shared something that spoke beautifully to my heart: "Fight the arguments – yes. But don't fight the soul of the other person. Bring them to Jesus by truth and by your love."

I actually have a few relationships in my life into which I hope to take this piece of wisdom and love.

Another piece of wisdom I hope to take into Lent comes from the Mass reading a couple days ago.  The disciples could not drive a demon from a boy, but Jesus was able to heal the boy.  His disciples asked why they had been unsuccessful, and He answered: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:29)

I have come up against a wall in my own life -- the same one that made it so hard to find joy at Christmas.  I know God wants to speak to this struggle, and when I read that verse, it was like something inside me leaped for joy, because I think with these words, our Lord wrote out a prescription for me as well.  I have been shocked by some of the selfishness and hardness of heart He has allowed me to see within myself lately.  But I am confident He wouldn't show me these things without also helping me see a way to grow through, and past, them.

How do you hope to grow closer to our Lord this Lent?  Right now is a good time to start thinking, and praying, about how He wants to draw nearer to your heart.  And remember, while Lent is typically thought of as a time to give up things we enjoy, it also can be a time simply to add in some things -- like an Adoration hour, or some time either starting or ending our day in prayer.  Or, if you don't usually read religious books, maybe now is a good time to try one!  An easy read I am currently enjoying from my Grandma is "Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality" by Raymond Arroyo.  She sure packs a lot of wisdom into tiny snippets!

Whatever you choose, I pray it may help you draw closer to the Lord this Lent.  And that Spring will arrive outside and in our hearts this Easter, when we cry, "Christ is risen! Hallelujah!"