Lent – Time for reflection

The watch, which measures time, reminds us of what we can do next. Having a watch running properly is absolutely necessary and helpful for people. All of a sudden, the tick of the watch is gone because the battery has died. What might happen if we do not take care of our own batteries which symbolize our daily prayers? Of course, our battery will die. To help our battery run well, Catholic Church wisely gives us a special time of Lent. This time urges us to pray consecutively so that we may stay in touch with God’s Love. Lent is also the time for us to look back mindfully into our lives and to renew our relationship with God. Lent is the invitation to you and me. We need to review our lives in an intimate relationship with God living daily.

Life today is moving too fast – paced. Most people strive to work the whole day. While workers try to work more than one job a day, the students are reminded by their parents to study and study. Many of us are getting used to a noisy life being busy with our smartphones, listening to music or watching movie shows or chatting whenever we have time. Then we forget contemplation and reflection on the words of God to gain balance for our lives, because we do not recognize its importance. Gradually, we forget about the words of God and live far away from ourselves and God. Just as the watch’s owner, who is too busy, omits to wind for the watch, and then it dies.

When we have to face difficulties, it is so easy for use to lose control of our feelings. We begin to become angry, anxious, and fearful of others. Just as the strong waves on the beach can have strong power to destroy everything around it, our bad temper such as anger can cause huge damages for people around us. So then, when we are angry, we are losing our self-control. In reality, anger has destroyed so many marriages and happy families. Since life is moving so fast that also prompts us to make decisions faster. We sometimes decide something without considering carefully.

To keep the tick of the watch running well, we need to take care of its battery daily. Likewise, to help us to calm down, nothing else but reflection every day with words of God, and being with the beautiful Creation will help. Once the battery is full, the watch will run properly. Once our daily prayer is well taken care of, our lives will be balanced, organized and happy. The words of God are special food to nourish our spirit; helping us to stay close with our feelings, sympathy with other people when they suffer, and reduce bad habits which hurt others. When we stay close and listen to God’s words, our fear will be moved and comforted. It is true because Jesus said, “Do not be afraid” (John 21:6), He is with us always no matter what happens. We always have Him among us to protect us and to help us to thrive in the best way as He has planned for the individual.

Thus, Lent is the best time for us to stay in touch with the words of God, and then the words of God would be shown through our kindness and generosity to ourselves and others such as giving more time to ourselves in peace, using heartfelt words to others, and doing charity work. To do these things well, we need times of serenity to hear God’s whisper in our hearts. We will not be able to listen to God’s voices if we still let other things occupy us. The seeds just raise sprouts when they are buried deep in the ground. The days pass by, these seeds will bear fruits well. God’s words also would be rising in our soul when we let God speak loud to our mind, and then God’s words are absorbed in our spiritual breath.

Just like the tick of the watch, it must need to be checked daily to preserve its energy. Lent is also a valuable opportunity to restore our relationship energy with God and with others. So then, the best tool that connects us with God is not anything else except for prayers. The prayers symbolize a wonderful bridge of the relationship between us and God in which we can pour our confidence in God. Prayers are like a reservoir of grace from God flowing in our lives to help us let go of all of our problems. From these graces of prayer from God, we will realize that there is nothing as important as staying with God’s words, letting God speak to ourselves in His hushed voice. Eventually, we are willing to welcome a Lenten season zealously in our hearts.

                                                                         Maria Dung Nguyen