A Spiritual Workout

I am always amazed at the number of people who get memberships to the gym only to let the cards wear away in their pockets.  Some people spend large sums of money on memberships, equipment, clothes, and the like only to wish they attended more.  Sometimes they make excuses for themselves or look down upon others, but never actually make any change in their lives.  Lent is a special liturgical season and an opportunity to grow in holiness, however it is only that if we, as Christians take it seriously.  Lent is kind of like a gym membership - an invitation and an opportunity to get yourself spiritually “in shape.”

In this way, the spiritual disciplines are a lot like a workout.  Take prayer for example:  Just like a workout, it takes discipline to set aside time to pray.  Also like a workout, it takes lots of time and repetition to develop a healthy prayer life, that is a relationship with God.  You have to work at it to make exercise a routine, a habit - and after you get going, it becomes easier and easier.  Lastly when working out, you are always striving for more - more weight to bench press, longer distance to run, more endurance with your training.  Just so, in the Christian life, we are always “on the way.”  There’s never a ceiling that we reach where we’ve “made it” - we can always grow closer to God who loves us infinitely.

We are about to enter into a season of dryness, a season of longing, a season of hunger.  Just like a personal trainer challenges and exhorts you to grow in holiness, I share that challenge with you.  I challenge you to take tangible steps to make this lent something special.  Write it down!  This is a huge step in making a lasting change!  Some examples I gave some friends recently:

You can also follow my personal lenten journey this year at www.mycatholicvoice.com/40days