Lent

Halfway through thoughts

"Today is important. Today's tasks, humdrum or exciting, are important in history. Today might be a part of preparation for many tomorrows, but only God knows what the tomorrows will contain--internationally, nationally, in our community, or in any one individual life. Today is the day that has to be lived with . . . strength."

--Edith Schaeffer, The Tapestry

Today I have a thousand small tasks on my to-do list to be wound around the work I have to do for work. I am fortunate that I work from home and can weave domestic tasks, care tasks, and other nonsense that comes with daily life around a flexible work day. Those small things, though, are what really make up my life. The work I do for work, I hope, blesses people and will do so for many years, but the work I do here is eternal.

Photo by Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare on Unsplash

I was thinking about that on my walk today. I listened to today’s Lent challenge on the Hallow App, and the reflection began with a quote from St. Jose Escriva, “to begin is for everyone, to persevere is for saints.” I have lately been deep in thought about a project geared toward mothers. That quote struck my heart, that we do have the path to sainthood in our homes, to persevere in making dinners, driving to soccer, sweeping the kitchen, changing thousands of diapers, and bathing stinky little people each evening. It is a perseverance that begets holiness.

I have been feeling a little guilty lately because my Lent has not been very difficult. My life, however, has been challenging. What I mean is that my chosen Lenten practices have fit into my life and I feel good about them; they have been good things, I’m not suffering, but my daily to-dos, my workload, and the mental load of this family have been larger than normal. Maybe this is the point of this Lent? Not to look outward for ways to sanctify my life but to look inward at what is already happening.

I thought I would share these thoughts, and I would love to hear how your Lent is going. Is it being fruitful or blah? Are you feeling closer to God?

When I got home from my walk this morning, I opened my commonplace book and this quote jumped out at me.

"Good and evil both increase at compound rates. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible."

--C. S. Lewis,Mere Christianity

I sense a theme.

Have a wonderful day, my friends, I will offer a Memorare for your intentions.