Everything in Its Proper Season

Lent is perfectly suited for late winter. It may seem obvious to point out that God, in His infinite wisdom, has organized the liturgical seasons to perfectly match the and complement the seasons of nature. While it is a well known and oft spoken truth that He brings all things to fruition in their proper time, there is still wisdom and peace to be found in appreciating that truth. It also seems to me that the Lenten late winter is one of these proper times that is not as frequently expressed.

I mentioned yesterday that one of the challenges of teaching is to keep students engaged during third quarter when they are most inclined to run a muck. Children and teenagers and not the only ones who have this inclination in late winter. We all feel that the cold and darkness and drab surroundings have lasted too long and are not yet close enough to ending. In the classroom, the solution is to shake things up with some different class activities, directly engage specific students who are most likely to fall behind, get everyone up and moving a little more often...

In this regard, our souls are not that different from the classroom. We get in a rut. We get complacent. We accept the state of things no matter whether we are ignoring our present state of sin or settling for a limited or effortless prayer life. Our souls and minds and moods need shaking up this time of year, so God gives us Lent. We have a whole season in which we are invited and challenged to slap ourselves in the face, wake up, look at ourselves and study our lessons in a new way. 

It may take a little extra energy to get started, but we are happier for applying the effort. I am happier for this commitment that I will finish my day by saying something good. My mood has been lighter since the very moment I decided that this is how I would celebrate my Lent.

God bless. Thank you.