We can be easily led astray these days unless we are grounded in truth. With so many voices shouting for our attention, we can start ignoring the quiet whisper of the Divine within. We know silence and prayer are crucial to foster this connection allowing us to stay in tune with our mission, use our gifts well and bear goodness. The Spirit is always here to guide us. It our our job to leverage the seven gifts we have been given so we can participate in the external exchange of love.
Have you given much thought how you will answer God when you come face to face with Him as your soul passes from earth to heaven? Do you know what you will say when asked to account for your actions to help build the His kingdom on earth. Do you have a good answer for “How well did you love me?”
So much of my life I was caught up in what people would say instead of basing reality on their behaviors. This likely stems from having significant relationships in my life who were emotionally unavailable to me in my formative years. This destructive coping mechanism led me into a lot of wishful thinking and living in the hopeful future. After suffering the consequences of a failed marriage and another long-term dating relationship, I was able to see how this habit was not serving me well and was able to change my mindset to ensure that actions must match words.
We have spent the past 40 days of Lent renewing and reinvigorating our faith in preparation for Easter. The sacrifices and penances we have made have softened our hearts to be ready to enter the Easter Triduum — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil — in which we commemorate the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Easter Triduum allows us to walk in Jesus’s footsteps during His final hours on earth.
Today’s post, on this second Sunday of Lent, is written by a guest contributor Melanie Boutiette. Melanie is my sister, mother figure, and friend. I am pleased to introduce you to her and an article from her blog Just Beloved, Words of Encouragement for you!
I love to garden. I love digging my hands in the rich soil, planting beautiful flowers, and transforming a once barren area into a beautiful bed or landscape. The whole yard is filled with a variety of flowers and plants. I especially love the front of the house. I have an English garden there that once was just an ugly plot of ground after disease destroyed all the bushes and plants. To look at my yard right now in the dead of winter, you cannot tell that I love to garden.
Today’s post is written by a guest contributor Jacquelyne Rocan. Jacquelyne has been a spiritual sister to me throughout the years and I am pleased to introduce you to her!
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and I find myself recalling this time last year. While there were certainly reports of the new coronavirus circulating in more and more communities, I celebrated Ash Wednesday in 2020 in many of the same ways that I have always marked that day — attending Mass, receiving ashes on my forehead, fasting, and setting in place plans for experiencing a holy and spiritual Lenten season. This included plans for additional prayers, readings, and attending Stations of the Cross. I marked times for all of the Holy Week services on my calendar — the Easter Triduum of Holy Thursday Mass, Good Friday service, and Easter Vigil Mass. It was important to me to fully participate and prepare by attending these services, as much as I could (especially through many years of serving on the RCIA team in my parish). My Lenten and Easter seasons have felt incomplete when I have been unable to prepare and attend the Easter Triduum services.
I recently listened to organizational psychologist Adam Grant’s podcast about Givers and Takers where he breaks down three personalities and offers simple strategies to promote a culture of generosity in the workplace. It was validating to know that the givers win out in affecting positive culture and increased results. Go figure!
Smitten With Goodness 