Lent

I don't know about you, but for most of my life Lent was a time for giving something up. I recall one Lent when I gave up drinking coffee but before Lent was over I found myself drinking coffee again. For some reason or other, that somehow "didn't work."

It is still perfectly O.K. to give something up, but make sure that you're not giving up something trivial or meaningless.

And then of course we all know -- or should know -- that the Sundays of Lent don't count. They're not part of the 40 days of Lent. Giving something up for six days and then "pigging out" on Sunday is another way we can play the game called Lent, if we choose to.

We need to take Lent a bit more seriously. It's an opportunity to prepare ourselves for Easter by doing something that makes a real difference in our lives. It can be something that we "give up" or turn away from, or it can be something that we decide to do, some positive action.

For the last few weeks our bulletin insert has focused on what we do as a parish during Lent, and it offers a list of things that you might consider doing during Lent. That latter list is by no means exhaustive. You're free to be as creative as you want to be.

The really important thing is that you don't waste the golden opportunity that Lent presents to us. Use these days to effect some real change in your life. And whatever you decide to do, keep it to yourself. It's between you and God.

Have a Blessed Lent!