Doing and Giving Up During Lent
We were talking about self-control and discipline at work, comparing that to our Lenten practices.
Anyone who applies themselves to their work knows all about the need for self-control and discipline, right? You can't just show up in the morning after being out all night, eating and drinking. How can you concentrate on your work and get the job done when you're tired, hung over and suffering from indigestion? Not possible.
You know that discipline entails both doing and giving up.
So you - at least mostly - get a good night's rest, watch what you eat and drink, maybe do a little exercise to keep your body fit enough to meet the physical challenges of an 8 hour (or frequently longer) day at work. That's what sustains you day after day, and allows you to excel at what you do. Enough excellent days and maybe you get a promotion, make a little more money.
Most of us understand these simple basics and typically adjust our lives accordingly. Now just apply the same simple basics to your spiritual life and Lent. Decide what you're going to do and what you're going to give up. Of course you do this all year, right? You make it your business to pray each day, maybe read some Scripture, some spiritual works. You say your rosary, maybe get to daily Mass. Right? That's your spiritual discipline.
So what's different about Lent? Well, it's just a time to refresh, to energize, to sharpen your spiritual discipline. Just as businesses sometimes provide special training, conferences, even retreats to hone your skills and help you focus better on your work, your special doing and giving up during Lent helps you to hone your spiritual life and focus better on your supernatural life.
Observing Lent doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. You don't need to agonize about what your should do or give up, especially if you've got some sort of spiritual discipline throughout the year. You'll just focus on one or two items and apply yourself more diligently.
It's just like that special training, those conferences or business retreats. You're building on skills and good habits you already have. You're just trying to improve those skills and solidify those good habits. During Lent you'll do the same for your spiritual life.
Maybe you improve your usual mortifications. For example, if you typically wait a couple of minutes after saying grace before digging in to your meal to help your self-control, maybe you wait four minutes during Lent. That's something special you'll be doing during Lent.
If you like cream in your coffee, maybe you drink it black during Lent. Or maybe you don't butter your bread. Spend a few minutes and use your imagination here. You'll come up with one or two things you'll be giving up.
So if you're basically disciplined at work - and you really should be - you can be disciplined in your spiritual life. And just like you occasionally make special efforts to improve your situation at work, Lent gives you the chance to make special efforts to improve your relationship with God.
You've got no trouble doing these special things at work, and you'll have no trouble doing those special things during Lent. Just make your mind up right now, spend a few minutes getting straight what you'll be doing and what you'll be giving up.
Anyone who applies themselves to their work knows all about the need for self-control and discipline, right? You can't just show up in the morning after being out all night, eating and drinking. How can you concentrate on your work and get the job done when you're tired, hung over and suffering from indigestion? Not possible.
You know that discipline entails both doing and giving up.
So you - at least mostly - get a good night's rest, watch what you eat and drink, maybe do a little exercise to keep your body fit enough to meet the physical challenges of an 8 hour (or frequently longer) day at work. That's what sustains you day after day, and allows you to excel at what you do. Enough excellent days and maybe you get a promotion, make a little more money.
Most of us understand these simple basics and typically adjust our lives accordingly. Now just apply the same simple basics to your spiritual life and Lent. Decide what you're going to do and what you're going to give up. Of course you do this all year, right? You make it your business to pray each day, maybe read some Scripture, some spiritual works. You say your rosary, maybe get to daily Mass. Right? That's your spiritual discipline.
So what's different about Lent? Well, it's just a time to refresh, to energize, to sharpen your spiritual discipline. Just as businesses sometimes provide special training, conferences, even retreats to hone your skills and help you focus better on your work, your special doing and giving up during Lent helps you to hone your spiritual life and focus better on your supernatural life.
Observing Lent doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. You don't need to agonize about what your should do or give up, especially if you've got some sort of spiritual discipline throughout the year. You'll just focus on one or two items and apply yourself more diligently.
It's just like that special training, those conferences or business retreats. You're building on skills and good habits you already have. You're just trying to improve those skills and solidify those good habits. During Lent you'll do the same for your spiritual life.
Maybe you improve your usual mortifications. For example, if you typically wait a couple of minutes after saying grace before digging in to your meal to help your self-control, maybe you wait four minutes during Lent. That's something special you'll be doing during Lent.
If you like cream in your coffee, maybe you drink it black during Lent. Or maybe you don't butter your bread. Spend a few minutes and use your imagination here. You'll come up with one or two things you'll be giving up.
So if you're basically disciplined at work - and you really should be - you can be disciplined in your spiritual life. And just like you occasionally make special efforts to improve your situation at work, Lent gives you the chance to make special efforts to improve your relationship with God.
You've got no trouble doing these special things at work, and you'll have no trouble doing those special things during Lent. Just make your mind up right now, spend a few minutes getting straight what you'll be doing and what you'll be giving up.
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