First Week of Lent

A week ago was Ash Wednesday.  At that point, I was not really sure what shape my Lenten commitment would take...and I opted for resolutions that amounted to trying to do more of something but there was not much substance to the commitment.  I often find that when my commitment to anything is that vague it probably means that I really need to continue praying about my willingness to commit.

That being said...I spent the first two days of Lent feeling like vital was missing--like I was searching for something just beyond my reach.  By Friday evening, I was finally at a point where I had to rework my Lenten commitment to something that incorporated more willingness to change and clarity.  There were no other options for me at this point.  So I took my initial thought (that this Lent I am being called to increased conversion) and listed the things that were standing in the way of this continued growth.  Once I prioritized my list, I began to see that in some subtle ways my use to technology and media was starting to take over many parts of my life.  Between Facebook, my e-Reader, YouTube, ipods, and various apps, I was starting to lose a sense of what is really important for my life and for my well being.  As much as I hesitated on this, I have decided to restrict my use of technology or extra media to ministry related purposes during the week. 

This past week's experience has reminded me of the monastic adage that the task of the true monastic is to constantly get up and try again after every stumble or falter.  This saying gives me hope since it focuses on the effort to improve rather than the achievement of a goal.

Please pray for our community's School of Lectio which begins this evening.  May God bless of the participants and staff.

Sr. Catherine, OSB