Lent Virgin

So the season of Lent is now upon us. Ashamedly I admit that this is the first year I've actually observed it. The main reason is that I spent too many years in the Southern Baptist Church - not something I regret really but it did keep me from learning about the deep spirtual meanings behind the rituals of the liturgical church. Advent is another special time that I've come to appreciate as well. Both are times of preparation and reflection. Christmas and Easter are both are times that we as Christians should truly reflect on God's gifts to us and seek His plan for our lives. To truly do this, we must take time to prepare ourselves for true fellowship and worship with him. We must cleanse ourselves of 'self' in a way and direct our thoughts, actions and intentions more on Him and others. Like any sort of training, this takes time and will not happen overnight.

As for Lent specifically, the intent is self sacrifice. Christians give up something they love so that whenever they crave and want for that particular thing, they are reminded of Christ's ultimate sacrifice for us. It can also be giving up something that distracts us or gets in the way of our focus on Christ which is ultimately where my sacrifice came in.... I gave up something I love that also tends to distract me from more important activities - Facebook. I like to tell myself that I tune into Facebook to keep up with others -but honestly, I do it for myself. When I log in, it almost instantly draws me in and commands my attention - sometimes for hours on end. Luckily, I am not one to have Facebook on my phone or this sacrifice would be nearly impossible.

But beyond my spiritual reasons for giving up Facebook are also personal reasons. I need better balance in my life. God needs my attention - yes but so do my children, my husband and MY HOUSE !!! Yikes! I'm trying to juggle yet have no talent for this. The root of the problem I feel is that I have turned my focus inward and that has turned my world inside out. If I learn to put my eye back on the prize (our Heavenly Father) then it's only natural that my attentions will be directed on those who need me and off myself. Then maybe, just maybe everything else will fall into place and the need to juggle will be gone.