I’m going to try and give up procrastinating by writing a blog on this first Sunday of Lent. So what have I been listening to over the past month or so…maybe this will only be a monthly blog. As I reflect I realise I’ve heard a lot of things…so I need to refine that question a bit, maybe to what am I hearing today…from Love in particular, cause I’m still hearing the movie Linda and I watched last night pretty loud and clear. Maybe the strongest invitation I’m hearing is to write a blog. I’m going to ask for the grace to continue to hear that gentle encouragement until I post it, and edit it, and post it and… hence the 2 day delay…better late than never.

The next loudest thing I’m hearing is the invitation to enter into this Church season of Lent. Not really sure what that means for me yet but I’ll start with the traditional encouragement to step up / be more intentional with praying, fasting and alms giving and go from there. Sometimes its good not to have to reinvent the wheel. Tradition can be a blessing…sometimes.

Prayer: My New Year’s resolution or rather grace that I’m asking for in 2024 is to be more happy. I realized that if I’m happy the One who created me will be happy. Bringing joy to Creator is a good thing and being happy is OK too, especially for this melancholic, introverted aging soul. I’ve discovered the main way to be happy is to be / do what I was created to be…love, listen and labor creatively i.e. stained glass. All that to say this year I’m hoping I’m more happy by spending more time creating stained glass pieces. Spending more time in the studies doing my stained glass spiritual practise – prayer practise. It does feel good when the piece is finished and others enjoy it and Creator is happy we’re all happy so win/win/win…not that winning is what it’s all about and…

Fasting: My present “signature” on my emails is “Fasting during Lent is about making space through subtraction and making room for more love — love for God, my neighbor, and ourselves. Lent is a great time to practice absence so that presence increases. https://scottandclareloughrige.org/blog/what-will-you-give-up-and-what-will-you-add/  “ I’ve left the American spelling for “neighbour” seeing as that’s where Clare and Scott Loughrige live. I’m resisting promoting their wonderful book on the Enneagram – Spiritual Rhythms of the Enneagram: A Handbook for Harmony and Transformation – “now you know your number / energy space, now what?” Clare also wrote an interesting booklet – Motions of the Soul:

The Enneagram and Ignatian Spirituality – which I appreciated with the role of the Spiritual Exercises are beginning to play in my life. Fasting to make space for more love is a wonderful thing and so I’m limiting my leisure screen time…especially on Sunday. With all the books I have, less screen time – except for my Kindle – reading is a good thing. I’m also giving up ETOH for Lent. I passed on dry February and I’ve noticed that after a drink or so I’m less curious, and compassionate / loving – just wanna have fun. So I’m going to take a break from partying and make more room for Love…or party more soberly…lovingly…on Sundays only.

Almsgiving: Being generous without overthinking is hard for me … I seem to need reasons for giving … what the money I give will be used for etc.. It’s easy for my hamster brain wheel to imagine all kinds of things. Giving to those in need just because they ask or it’s being generous or just ‘cause … is a Lenten spiritual practise I’ve done before. Giving a toonie to the souls on the side of the road at the light without worrying that it’s probably going for booze or drugs – is being generous and it might be for food. Just for Lent of course. Hopefully I’ll continue to generous in a more rational and compassionate way.

I’ve discovered that limiting a behaviour which could be good or bad, screen time / ETOH / being naive, even for a little while, has a positive impact when limiting it doesn’t really matter as much. For example: limiting my leisure screen time – playing solitaire on my phone on Sundays only once, seems to make it easier to only play it only once during the week, when I’m justifiably needing a break. I’m guessing that reading instead of screen time during Lent will make it easier to pick up a book for a break rather than firing up the 1/2 dozen solitaire games on my phone. Although I must confess appreciating that endorphin rush when I win. Not sure a book will replace that. Going into the glass studio daily, even if it’s just to clean up will get me down there and who knows what creativity could happen – lots of patterns and glass. This is my latest co-creation.

I’ve learned / heard that good spiritual practises have a way of creating space in myself so Love has a chance to transform me – mind, body, heart and soul. I can’t force union with Christ but when I make space for union to happen I find Grace moves me closer to the heart of Love that energises and guides the whole universe to a better way / loving way of being.  As I wrap up this blog I find myself sorta gratefully looking forward to Lent 2024. It will be an interesting 40 days of praying / fasting / giving and transformation…Grace willing…and I know and experienced that She’s more than willing. Thanks be to Love.