When anyone decides to take on a new challenge - the hardest part - starting. One can think - plan - schedule - calculate time required - barriers - all sorts of variables - hardest part - actually starting. Once that first effort is made - the first step taken - it is simply a matter of continuing the motion. One foot after the other - left - right - until the goal is reached - project completed. That is exactly how we should approach Lent. There are many ways to observe Lent - silently alone - vocally in groups - sitting in church - Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament - Bible Study - attending Holy Mass - Stations of the Cross - meditation - reading inspirational articles - sitting on the back porch - making oneself present to God. In the quiet - in the noise - in the peaceful moments - times of chaos - God is there. It is important for everyone who has made a decision to participate fully in the Lenten experience to understand that quality not quantity is what is important. When my wife and I walk through the desert - the greatest effort is not always the climb - rather the length of the journey. A short hike up the mountains at a slower pace often is very relaxing compared to the temptation to walk quickly over flat terrain.
As mentioned before - God is looking for quality - not quantity. Better to spend fifteen minutes in deep meditation - rather than an an hour of distracted prayers. As pilgrims on a journey - better to walk sure footed than run on a slippery slope. Lent is forty days long - plenty of time for everyone to draw closer to Our Lord.
Deacon Dale
