Today is Ash Wednesday my friends. This day kicks off the season of Lent for Christians. I have to say...this season is always a very enlightening, inspirational, & uplifting experience for me every year. As a devoted Roman Catholic, I find this time one in which I get a chance to re-discover & refresh the true meaning of sacrifice.
Every year during this time, those devoted to this season make a personal sacrifice for 40 days & 40 nights, symbolic of Jesus' 40 days in the desert where He underwent starvation & temptation before His passion. With the tradition of sacrificing something, it brings many closer to their faith. For others, it's merely something that they do due to obligation or to show off.
So many people give up simple things: chocolate, candy, soda, shopping, all that jazz. For me, I give up something personal, usually a bad habit not involving food. This gives me more of a challenge. On top of that, I also start doing something positive I don't usually do very often...to balance it out & make Lent more meaningful to me. It always lifts my spirits & touches me heart when I make my sacrifice complete...then when Easter comes around, it's one of the best days of my year.
Church today was great. But what bugs me the most are the "part-time catholics"...meaning those who show up ONLY for big occasions like Ash Wednesday, Easter, & Christmas & NOT normally every Sunday. They overcrowd the churches & make it uncomfortable & impossible to focus for the actual devotees who go to church every single Sunday. How can some people spend endless hours in the mall or shopping or going out & having a great time...when devoting time for church 1 hour once a week seems impossible? that never became clear to me. In my opinion, there's no excuse for that & frankly I find it shameful.
Anyways...I hope everyone has a good Lent season. For those who follow it, I hope you make this experience a joyous, blessed, & self-discovering one through your sacrifices. Undergoing the temptation & overcoming them will definitely bring you closer to your faith & ultimately closer to God...which IS the ultimate happiness in life.
Deuces everyone. God bless.
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