Lent: Did You Blow it or Bring it?

The Triduum is upon us. The holiest three days of the year are almost here and I think most of us are asking ourselves this one question:

Did I blow it or bring it during these 40 days?

Me? I did both.

In many ways I felt like life slowed down during these last 40 days. I’m betting that probably has something to do with giving things up – like my beloved Sonic Happy Hours – that makes the days tick by slower. Hello, first world problems. But, I also think it ticks by slower because we’re all a bit more conscious of our actions.

That’s the beauty of Christianity.

During Lent, it’s not just “me” that’s fasting, giving alms and praying. It’s over a billion people doing it and there happens to be power in solidarity. Power to the ashes, y’all.

Perhaps it was the pregnancy, my pending due date, my lack of oxygen in the lung department and a bit of redemptive suffering, but Lent meant something even more this year. I know that at the end of all this, at the end of the 40 days and at the end of my nine months of pregnancy, there will be joy. And, a whole boatload of it.

With each passing Lent, I’m recognizing my flaws more and learning to forgive them quicker in others. Don’t worry, my cause for canonization isn’t up yet, I have still have mucho work to do. But, I think I’m better now than I was 40 days ago. And that’s the whole point isn’t it?

Chances are we’ll all slip back a bit. We’ll eat out more than we should, drink a few too many glasses of wine, shorten that prayer time a bit, forget to make alms giving as much of a priority, or…

perhaps we won’t. Perhaps a small change we made a pledge to do 40 days ago has laid its roots in our hearts. Perhaps God is already doing his magnificent work within us and we’ll look up a few months from now and be amazed at the transformation.

More than anything, Lent has taught me to relish in making small changes in my life. To recognize that big, massive, life-changing events usually come as part of small changes to my patterns of behavior. St. Therese sure believed in the little way and by golly, I do, too.

Have a blessed Triduum y’all. See you at Easter (that is, if Baby Whitaker can stay put until then, otherwise I’ll post here). I hit the 38 week milestone today!