Day 33: Swim

We’ve got one more week til’ the conclusion of Lent, and I’ve got to say that it’s working. This whole fasting bit for sure, has really opened up my eyes and has given me a freedom that I haven’t felt in awhile.

What I’ve been fasting has been one of those leeches that slowly would suck my time away. Giving me less time to focus on more important matters. What’s also helped is using this unused time and putting it towards something positive for myself, and that’s been these daily lenten reflection blogs. Each day, I have to stretch my brain and silence my heart to find God in the retrospect of the past day.

So fasting has been great, but doing something positive alongside it has truly been the part that has provided me freedom. I’ve been thinking about it along the lines of being dropped off in a lake or ocean. It becomes a sink or swim situation.Holding my breath, and doing without air for awhile will keep me from drowning, but I’ve got to put my energy and time into swimming as well, to get out of this precarious situation. I not only have to fast, but I have to do something that gives me freedom.

So keep swimming friends. Freedom (Good) Friday is almost here.

 

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection

Day 32: Jump

Today at confession, the priest reminded me of something that I forgot. That all in all, I’m a good person.

It’s easy to forget when you spend the 30 minutes before that moment really mulling out how bad of person you are. I’ve learned that you really have to go to the lowest lows of yourself in order to get to greater heights. The key is not to dwell on the low, but to use it to get more trajectory to your growth goals. It’s like squatting as low as you can to jump. But it has to be in a fluid motion from standing to an immediate but short squat to get that take off. If I stay in the squat, it actually becomes more difficult to jump higher.

So I shouldn’t stay in the low, focusing on how bad of a person I am. But acknowledge that it’s all part of reaching that high standard I should be setting for myself everyday. That standard that the priest kindly reminded me that I’m more than capable of being.

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection

Day 31: Hear

Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God…

John 8:47

It doesn’t get anymore straightforward than this. If you call yourself a person of faith, you will hear His words. I think when Jesus says “hear” it really means to really take it to heart. For anyone else, they may find God’s words as just fascinating or on the extreme end, crazy. It’s easy to observe from the outside and contemplate and such, but to hear and take these challenging words to heart is another matter.

So if you consider yourself someone who belongs to God, and hears His words, we now have the obligation to get things done.

Welcome to living.

 

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection

Day 30: Cheers

Cheers to my teammate who watches my back, and keeps me focused on the goal. Cheers to my best friend, who always makes sure I’m doing well. Cheers to my financial planner, who’s always assuring me that we’re okay. Cheers to the mother of my kids, who’s love makes boo-boos better.

Cheers to my wife, for 3 of the best years of my life so far. Life would literally not be the same (or as awesome) without you.

Happy Anniversary.

Tags | catholic, reflection

Day 29: Surface

So this whole Lenten Reflection thing, got me reflecting about reflecting. No really. As I was praying about what to post, I was thinking “Why do we even use the word reflection when it comes to ‘deep thinking’ and recollection?”

When I think of reflection I think of a mirror, or still water. That when I look in it, I will obviously see myself. The only thing that will change that is the surface condition of what will reflect my image. So if the mirror is cracked or dirty, or the water is moving, it’s hard to see what you look like at that moment. Finding that accurate image of yourself is difficult under these conditions.

So the question I’m asking myself now is “What condition is my reflective surface in?” Or in other words “What condition is my heart and mind in?”

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection