“The truth is this: Diets don’t fail. We fail diets. Savings plans don’t fail. We fail at savings plans. Exercise routines don’t fail. We fail at exercise routines. Relationships don’t fail. We fail at relationships.” Matthew Kelly, Perfectly Yourself, third edition, Beacon Publishing Inc., 2017

How’s that for a taste of reality! By now some of us may have failed at our Lenten goal. Here’s the good news, God doesn’t care about your past or your failures, He is focused on your intentions. If your intentions are square with God’s will, your are well on your way to living a life of fulfillment. Our challenge is aligning our will with God’s plan for us. Essentially this is what Lent is all about, taking one more step and I might add a baby step, to improve our relationship with God.

Lent is not new year’s resolution phase 2, Lent is “Metanoia” in action. This demands a commitment like no other, because it is meant to change the way you think and act for the rest of your life. So where does one begin? In the tradition of Saint Ignatius, we begin with self-examination.

To start, quit soliciting God with your personal desires.

Instead, ask God what He would make of you if you freely abandon your will to him. Quoting Matthew Kelly; “How would you live differently if you saw yourself as God saw you?” This is the art of self examine. An honest self examine can reveal aspects of ourself, that are preventing a deeper relationship with God. What preoccupations and vices are interfering with your spiritual growth or personal relationship with God? One important piece of advice is to work on fixing one aspect before moving on to another.

The other point is take small steps, and don’t be afraid of setbacks. Quoting Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Tom Hook; “Trust in the slow work of God.” IF you are sincere, God will be right there to pick you up whenever you fall. Jesus was willing to meet Peter and all his disciples precisely where they were spiritually and lead them all to sainthood. He can do the same with you. 

One person to whom I’ve been offering spiritual direction for several years has developed a routine of doing his self-examination during Advent and once he decides what aspect of his life needs change, he focuses on what he has to do to make those changes. I might emphasize, he works on one issue at a time and only when he feels his current issue is under control does he tackle another. This simple approach has helped him make significant changes over the years.

For those of us who might prefer to step up our study habits during Lent, I recommend sharing a challenging book or video series with your small group. Something that takes you out of your comfort zone. A good group discussion brings out many points that you alone may have missed. Personally, my greatest spiritual growth has come from those small group participation.

If you are into meditation I recommend the Rosary, Holy Hour or an on line site like Pray as you Go, USCCB daily readings or Sacred Space daily readings. I often tell people I don’t know when God will choose to grow me, but if I develop a daily habit of meditation, He knows when to find me. Also, to paraphrase Og Mandino, the best way to conquer a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit. 

Just remember it’s never too late to reconnect with God.

De Colores

Frank Viscomi