leading men to glory...

Well it's here. The middle of February. Depression time. And now it gets even worse... Lent. No more food. No more fun. Whatever you love most, you're supposed to give that up, right? I think lent's gotten a bad rap, and that's because some people don't know what penance is or what it's all about. Do you? What is the deal with penance anyway? Are you following me?

What we're really talking about is the meaning and purpose of our lives, to be unleashed as tremendous lovers for God. That's what it's all about. That's what the Church has always been about, leading men to glory, to freedom, to joy. How does that work? First, we bathe in God's love, drink it in, let it wash over us, fill us, consume us... that's what we call prayer, got it?...

Mmhmm, and then what? Well once you've feasted on divine Love, it kinda changes your perspective on things you know? You don't have to worry so much about STUFF. Do you worry about STUFF, or worse, about MONEY? What a waste of time, right? I mean it's ok to be concerned and to be a good steward, but how much time and energy do we waste with useless worrying? Enough! Let's move on, ok? And if you're full of Divine Love, you're going to be free, and that's the point of "fasting"...

Well, what if we started thinking of money and other stuff as a way to be generous, to shower God's love on whoever else has been put in our life (they call this almsgiving back in the day)? Wouldn't that be a paradigm shift? Then again, maybe it's better to just keep worrying, after all, you're gonna need that money to pay for the heart attack you give yourself, right?

Prayer, fasting, almsgiving... Communion with that God who loves us like crazy, freedom from worries about material things, generosity with those most in need... Wouldn't that be glorious. Go for it this lent, or just do as God says through the prophet, "Return to me with all your heart..."

God bless,
Live from your heart,

Scott