Lent is Tough!!

I am what is considered a devout Catholic (although I don't always agree with my Church on every issue). I respect all religions and have done quite a bit of study on many.

My personal feeling is they all say the same thing; love and respect one another with the time you are given. That being said, I do love my parish, Saint Bridget's. I like being a part of a collective, a tradition, a parish. And I am so pleased with our reputation of being "that social justice church." 

We are now a few weeks into Lent. For Christians this is a time of reflection and penance. As you get older giving up chocolate (not going to happen anyway) or other things just doesn't seem to measure up to the true sense of sacrifice. This year I chose to not assume or project what other people are thinking or feeling. Do you know how hard that is??? I hate to admit it but I unabashedly measure people up all the time. Some good, some not so good.

Here's the thing, I believe everyone has an agenda. That's not such a bad thing. We all have something that drives us or calls to us. For some its security, self image, material goods. But I think most have a deeper sense.  It is what influences the choices we make and the people we chose to have in our lives.

Mine is the call of peace and non-violence. I have worked with many organizations promoting this. My greatest influences are Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. and of course Jesus. The key to peace as taught by these great leaders is to not judge others. To not assume we know what is in the hearts of men. To accept people as they are with patience and understanding. That is an enormous challenge!

I know I fail regularly. People don't always treat us fairly. Our first reaction is usually anger. Eleanor Roosevelt said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" so too with anger. But we must not give our permission to those who would make us angry. Keeping a peaceful heart, especially when being treated unfairly is hard. But there truly is no greater act we can do. Dr. King said "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

So as I continue this Lenten journey I hope this effort will spill over this 40 days of this concentrated effort. That with the absense of judgment in my heart, there is instead room to grow in love.  I read daily the Prayer of St. Francis and ask "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace" and think chocolate might have been easier! Peace Out!