Thursday, February 23, 2012

After the 40 Days


Self- Portrait by Wendi Solari via pinterest

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. According to the gospels, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before beginning his ministry. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our own 40-day period of prayer and fasting.

I love the church season of Lent as it causes us to reflect on our lives and our relationship with Christ. It is 40 days of repentance, 40 days of preparation for Easter, 40 days of fasting and/or moderation. It reminds us that we belong to Christ.

Some observe the season of Lent by giving up something like soda pop or unhealthy food for the 40 days. Others choose to reflect inwardly with more prayer or by doing something good each day.

But what if we didn’t stop after the 40 days? What if after Easter we continued our Lenten journey with Christ with more prayer, continued moderation, more inward reflection. What if we chose to continue being just a little kinder, a little more helpful, a little more understanding even after Easter has passed? What if we made it a habit to do something good each day even after the calendar has been turned to July, or October, or December?

This Lenten Season, may your journey toward renewal be filled with hope, promise, thankfulness, discovery, and a deepened commitment to your faith.

3 comments:

TesoriTrovati said...

I just wrote about this exact thing. I am challenging myself to a 40 Day F.A.S.T. (For A Super Tomorrow) and hopefully this F.A.S.T. will be fast and help me to stick to the new habits I am hoping to form!
Enjoy the day.
Erin

Joann Mannix said...

I try, during every Lenten season, to better myself somehow. This year, in examining my soul, I have determined to live my life with kindness. Sometimes, something that is hard to do. I have found almost every Lent, that my soul is shaped irretrievably for the better.

Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia said...

Lent comes at the perfect time. Right when your habits might come back out from your new years resolutions we are reminded again at lent :)
XOXO
Kristin