Several years ago, Fr. Adam MacDonald SVD (Divine Word Missionary) conducted a retreat at SSPJ Parish. I thought I would remind you of a few things he shared with us, even though we are deep into the Lenten season.
We learned that LENT meant Let’s End Negative Thinking. Wow, now I have another thought to add to my course on becoming a Complaint-Free Person. It is interesting how Lent can be a time to concentrate on being a more positive person. It fits in with some of what Pope Francis has suggested to abstain from during Lent. Having done a little work in this area, I know that if the mouth does not speak what the mind is thinking, eventually the mind retools and starts thinking positive thoughts that the mouth is happy to proclaim.
Fr. Adam also shared that lent is time for AAA, which is not the roadside assistance group. It is time for your ANNUAL ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT. It is during the time of Lent and Advent that we get a chance to slow down and have more time for prayer and reflection, and we can check in to see where we are on our journey with God. What needs to change? What needs to improve? What needs to be let go of? There is still time to adjust our attitudes.
So where do you and I go from here? How have your resolutions been going? Is there a need for your ANNUAL ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT to take hold, or could you need Let’s End Negative Thinking? We each know ourselves well and know what needs to be done with what is happening on our journey. Take that silent time to reflect on where you want to be going and who you want to travel with. Discipline might be the hardest thing to accomplish, but together we can do it. Offer yourself words of encouragement and plan to finish lent strongly as you prepare to celebrate the holiest of our Church’s weeks. We can do it.
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
