Lenten Journey
Prayer, fasting and almsgiving can seem daunting to us as we begin our 40 days of Lent. And how does it feel right about now? Have you lost sight of your original intentions? Last year, a priest friend suggested we ‘give things up mindfully, not mindlessly.’ Those words continue to guide my Lenten journey and I’ve attempted to change things up a bit from my usual routine of ‘giving things up.’.
Prayer, for me, is the easy part. “Pray without ceasing,” St. Paul instructs us in 1 Thessalonians. Perhaps it is because I love solitude that I find this an easy practice. While driving my lengthy commute, walking, running even, I pray…rejoicing always and giving thanks. It is an enjoyable practice that can easily become a habit.
I read somewhere recently, that we must be careful of doing the right thing for the wrong reason. Fasting immediately came to mind. If I fast – is it to save money on food that can then be given to the local food bank, or am I depriving myself of food and secretly hoping to lose those pounds that have hung on since Christmas? There are numerous ways I can think of to fast, with no ulterior motive lurking in the shadows. We can fast from judging others; fast from anger, from complaining, and fast from thoughts of illness, trusting instead in the healing power of God.
Almsgiving is not necessarily a monetary thing. We all have too much stuff in our possession. We can purge those things we hoard, and give them to those who can make good use of them. I dropped in to Safe ‘N Sound recently – this is a local homelessness initiative – just to see what they’re all about. I was impressed with what I saw. They help the homeless, and those in danger of becoming homeless. They provide a comfortable spot to come in out of the cold, they provide a bit of lunch; a place to do laundry, take a shower and replace old and worn clothes with gently used clothing. There are computers available to search online for work and other resources, and overall the environment is warm and friendly. They are in constant need of towels, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, men’s and women’s deodorant. Gently used clothing, shoes and boots…it’s easy to help others by giving away those things we do not need; by doing without a few luxuries to purchase simple and much appreciated items of hygiene for those who can barely afford to feed themselves and their families.
Prayer, fasting and almsgiving can be accomplished in numerous ways. When we are mindful and grateful for the gifts we have been given, and when we are mindful of others’ needs and concerns, our Lenten journey will not be mindless drudgery, but fruitful and joy-filled.
2 replies on “Lenten Journey”
Food for thought – or fasting for thought? Well done Margery! It has made me think of our local food bank. Many people donate food, but a lot of it is past the sell by date and therefore unusable. This creates more work for the volunteers. If you see this, please get out the word that we must not use the food bank as a dumping ground for our unwanted food. Let us give with a generous heart to our brothers and sisters in need.
That often happens here at our church, where we provide emergency groceries. Donated food will sometimes show an expired shelf-life. Our giving must be ‘mindful,’ not mindless.
Thanks, Jean.