O Lent

I remember my first lent, 4 years ago. I was a sophomore in high school, and I had just made the decision to go through RCIA and enter the Catholic Church (best decision of my life)... I literally made this decision within a month of the start of lent, and my boyfriend at the time, told me I should do something for lent since I was going to have to do the next year anyway, and I was terrified. I didn't want to sacrifice. I didn't want to give anything up. I didn't want to make myself less comfortable. I don't remember if I even did anything, but I do remember being very distraught by the idea of self-mortification.

Fast forward 4 years - I had a conversation last week with one of my housemates about how excited I was for lent. There has been a lot of spiritual attack in our community, in our house. There have been a lot of trials in the lives of those around me, and in my own life. Lent is such a grace filled period, where we are truly given an opportunity to grow closer to Christ. We should look forward to this time in the Church because it is an opportunity for us to draw closer to God, to receive healing, to unite our wounds to his.

In the last few years I've learned the beauty of lent. I've seen the grace that fills this time of year. It is a time where we are reminded of the deep, intimate, personal love Christ has for us. It is a time where we can make a sacrifice out of love for our God, in order to grow closer to him, in order to seek him more fully. It is also a time of healing. During this season in the Church we reflect on the suffering Christ endured for us, and in this world we, as his disciples experience much suffering, and it is a time where we receive grace and healing by uniting our wounds to his.

This lent, I am going to pray the Stations of the Cross everyday before mass, because I am already blessed enough to be able to attend daily mass, and receive our Savior daily. I'm also doing a few other things, including not watching television alone, if it's done socially, it's okay, but even still encouraging game playing instead. I'm going to limit my social media use, particularly on my phone, and use it only for the purpose of building up the Kingdom of God. Those are just a few ways that I'm going to make changes in my life, to help draw me closer to our Lord.

Some other things I've heard of (in case you still haven't decided even though it's Ash Wednesday): only wearing 7 outfits, I've also heard of just having 2 outfits to alternate between, not looking in a mirror, not wearing make up, not wearing nail polish, pulling your hair back everyday, giving up your bed and sleeping on the floor, completely giving up social media (this is a big one these days!), praying the rosary daily, attend daily mass, more frequent adoration, not taking naps, giving up coffee, giving up meat.

Basically - if there's something you're really attached to, giving it up, as a sacrifice, as a way to draw closer to Christ and rely more fully on Him, rather than on things of this world.