Wednesday - First Week of Lent
February 21, 2018
God sent Jonah to Nineveh to announce "Forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people and the king of Nineveh believed him and proclaimed a fast and all put on sackcloth and ashes. They repented, When I was VERY young my sackcloth and ashes for Lent was giving up bubble gum. A few years later, it was giving up movies. Not too tough, the Hollywood moguls played their B movies during Lent because they knew a lot of people wouldn't be attending. On Easter Day they hit us with their greatest hits like Ben Hurr.
Now when I think about Lent and what kind of sackcloth and ashes I can come up with, I try to think of what would be meaningful. Even though I am retired, I find I seldom have enough time to accomplish all that I would like. So I came up with a few ideas, not entirely limited to just these...
Take time to read The Little Lenten Book---read it with fervor. Volunteer at church, I'm getting a good start on that. To boost it up a notch, when I am asked to water the plants in the church, and when alone, I take time and to sit in the quiet of the church and meditate.
Take time to call relatives and friends that are troubled or alone. Share with them the comfort that can be gained by talking to God. Also, don't forget the other saints that would like to hear from you.
When weather permits, take a walk and talk to God about what a great job he has done with nature. Finally, take time with my pets, and thank God for creating such wonderful creatures that just by their existence show the wonder of God.
Finding moments to meditate and talk to God is certainly not as drastic as sackcloth and ashes, but it brings me closer to God.
Judy Voss
St. Anthony Parishioner (and Art & Environment Committee and Collection's Ministry)
