Loving Lent as a Grace

I did not grow up in a Christian tradition that practiced Lent but most of my adult life I have been in churches that did focus on this practice. I find that it can be a wonderful way to prepare myself for the Holiest Days of the Christian Year, those final days of Holy Week---Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. I feel like if I don't utilize Lent as a time of extra focus in my spiritual life and instead treat it just like any other time then Easter ends up feeling just like any other Sunday, with a few more people in attendance! Lent gives me a chance to really be prepared to take in more deeply the Mysteries of Holy Week.

I often struggle in my own life with guilty fellings and low self-esteem and sometimes the traditional focus of Lent on "giving something up" sets me up to feel guilt rather than to more deeply experience grace. A number of years ago I was introduced to what is for me a much healthier Lenten practice of trying to add something special to my life during Lent, something that will help me come closer to grace. This year I am fortunate to have a pastor, my fellow blogger Todd Thomas, who has prepared a wonderfully creative set of meditations utilizing the wisdom of St. Ignatius. I will be using this guide in private prayer during this Lent but I am also hoping to gather with others in the DC area who are using this guide. In fact, we have scheduled a weekly gathering time on the Thursdays of Lent to gather with Todd to share our experiences with the guide and to grow as a community together. If you are in the DC area you are welcome to join us starting next Thursday, February 21, at La Madeleine in Rockville. We will gather at 6:30 PM for food and fellowship and begin discussion at 7:00 PM. If you aren't in the area, I do hope you will check out the guide here and perhaps benefit from it.