The thing about possessions is - do we really own them? or do they start owning us…… the more we can possess… the more we start to want…..
the more we possess… the more we worry about protecting, guarding, fearing losing of things….. it becomes a real catch-twenty two…
Someone once told me that there is a psychological principle that it takes about six weeks for a habit to become normal….. to become part of our daily routine…. I can vouch for that… over a year ago I got into the habit of putting the flag up the pole and taking it down whenever I could…. initially it was something I had to think about… and set my alarm for… now… almost without fail… I remember to put it up and take it down without even thinking…. (unless I am delayed)… now that is a little example… how much more,… could Lent be a time for fostering positive habits of prayer, self-denial and giving in time of our resources for worthy causes… to build up spiritual health…. and foster habits that are so natural that literally 'our left hand does not know what our right hand is doing.'
I started with a tautology… so I will finish with one…. I read a quote yesterday.. that I believe is true but it is also a bit unfathomable… It said…: “the only things that we actually keep are the things we give away…”… in one sense that sounds like a nonsensical contradiction… but God’s thinking is not like human’s, so maybe there is something in it…. we only really know we "own" something, when we are free enough to let go of it…..// or perhaps it means something deeper…… the only things worth possessing are the things that only make sense when given….// they do nothing if stored…// like love, given freely without expectation, kindness and forgiveness without expectation of return…. acts of charity not for recognition or approval….. random acts of kindness that no one will ever know we are the perpetrators of…// I read a maxim once upholding that there is a odd economic principle associated with love -- the more love you give away, the more love you have. It defies all other economic principles.
The gospel has a lot of wisdom in it… those things done for no other reason but love of God and not for anything else… call us to a deep inner movement of the heart towards God, because it does not get any other reward but to serve and love God in each other… actions for the glory and praise of God alone…
so, let’s make this time of lent a wonderful, joyfilled time of self-denial and making space for God… fostering positive habits for the year round…. and may God who has begun this good work in us.. bring it to perfection… in the secret of our own hearts….
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