Thoughts for The Season of Lent

I grew up with all the Catholic traditions -- including receiving the ashes on Ash Wednesday, fasting and "giving up" a favorite food or pleasure for lent.  However, after going through 5 years of cancer and the death of my first husband, I could not do the ashes.  I didn't need to be reminded of "dust thou art to dust thou shall return", and I felt that I had done enough "giving up" for a lifetime.

Now, living in a wonderful second marriage and comfortable life, I have no excuses.  And I have a much more mature understanding of the reasons for the traditional Catholic "rules" of lent.  They are an exercise in self-discipline and reminders of the real meaning of life.

So today I share with you some guidelines for fasting during lent in the words of Pope Francis:

• Fast from hurting words - say kind words
• Fast from anger - be filled with patience
• Fast from pessimism - be filled with hope
• Fast from complaints - contemplate simplicity
• Fast from bitterness - fill your hearts with joy
• Fast from selfishness - be compassionate to others
• Fast from grudges - be reconciled
• Fast from words - and listen

GOOD SAYINGS

I have a file on my desktop simply titled "Good Sayings".  When I read, and come across a phrase, sentence or paragraph that seems to be worth remembering, I copy and paste it into that file.  Then, when I am stuck on something, or seemingly in a rut, I go back and read some of those entries.

Today it occurred to me that many are worth sharing, and may provide inspiration for some of you.  So beginning today, I will start sharing some of these thoughts.  Where possible I will note the original source, but often I do not have the name of the author.  So I apologize in advance if I have not given credit to someone.

Here are a few thoughts I found appropriate for me today.  I invite you to share your thoughts.

"Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don’t talk back."

-W.K. Hope

"You are the sum total of your thoughts to present"

Mike McCue

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."

Raymond Lindquist

 "Courage does not always roar. 

Sometimes, it is the quietest voice at the end of the day saying, 
I will try again tomorrow!"