MAKING WAY FOR NEW LIFE THIS LENT
I recently watched a poignant interview of a 50-something celebrity who is living with a terminal illness. He spoke about his career, his life choices, and his relationships with friends and family, especially his children.
His life before his diagnosis had been filled with professional and personal successes and accolades, but there was a shadow side of shame, addiction and self-doubt. He never felt good enough. And yet, once his illness took hold, all of that – the positive and the negative – slowly began to be stripped away. All that remained was himself, the present moment, the people he cared for. The rest no longer mattered. Each new day was filled with gifts of connection, peace and resilience.
I see Lent offering a similar opportunity for going within and being with God (prayer), releasing from our lives what is no longer needed (fasting), and sharing ourselves and our resources with those around us (almsgiving). In Lent, we don’t have to pretend that we have it all together. We can admit we’re not perfect: not perfect parents, or children, or spouses, or neighbours, or Christians. We can let go of those things that are keeping us from living fully in relationship to God, other people, the earth and ourselves. For these days of Lent, we can strip away what is dead or dying, like a gardener prunes a plant, sometimes beyond recognition, anticipating fresh, healthy growth when the time is right. As we reach the halfway point of this penitential season, we can take stock: What else can I release that is not life-giving? How can I open my heart more? Who can I show up for?
Without this journey through the desert, we aren’t prepared for the new life Jesus offers with the resurrection.
Without prayer, our hearts are not tender.
Without fasting, we cannot be ready for the feast that awaits.
Without almsgiving, we aren’t able to fling open the doors of our hearts and share with the world all that gives us life: our faith, our hope, our sense of peace.
Lent isn’t a comfortable time, but the pruning we do over these 40 days leads to the glory of vibrant new life at Easter. May we savour the journey…
Anne Louise Mahoney is managing editor of Novalis. She is the editor of several books, including Pocket Book of Hope, and is the author of I Am and I Hope, part of the Seeds of Faith series for young children.
