R & R for Sunday, March 13th, 2011

People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.  ~St. Augustine

R and R Tip # 40: Renewal in Springtime

Lent is a springtime season that celebrates new life soon to be born. A time of renewal. So many of us are spending so much of our lives in a relentless pursuit of more stuff. Try to rediscover simple joys like just being together with your family and friends. Don’t be discouraged if this doesn’t always go well. If we were perfect, we wouldn't be human.

At the end of most days, we are frayed and coming apart. At the end of most years, we have fallen further away into pieces. The tasks at hand absorb us. We lose ourselves but the job gets done. Living breaks us down into pieces. We come back together again in different ways.

Lent is a time of hope and change. It could just be the change that brings us more hope and put the pieces back together again. All of us have, at one time or another, named certain things as our priorities. From time to time, when we become aware of our not doing something that is really important, we say, I have to make that a priority. Lent is an important time to do a top to bottom review of what we value and what we actually do, in our every day lives.

Lent is the perfect opportunity to get the rest, prayer time, exercise, and diet we deserve. Napping doesn’t top most Lenten to-do lists, but studies show that many people are sleep-deprived. If we’re cranky, short-tempered, or dull-witted for that reason, restoring good humor through adequate sleep might be just what we need.

Renew yourself and relax in the blessing of this Lenten Season.

See you all next Sunday!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma