Subterranean By Design...
---A Good Day to be Catholic---
2004-02-26 - 12:29 a.m.
So begins the season of Lent. Today, on Ash Wednesday, I feel really glad that I am a Catholic.
The day started with class, and after my first lecture, I found myself talking with Christina, Mary, and Paul (all math geeks) about what we were doing for Ash Wednesday and what we were giving up for Lent. For some reason this got me all excited about being Catholic. It had to be the first time that I viewed the beginning of Lent as a happy occasion. It got me to thinking what the season actually means to me. The Passion of The Christ came out today, and though I didn't get to see it, I reveled in the fact that it finally has made the theaters. All of the reviews I've heard from Christians have been fantastic, so I am pretty pumped to see the film. I wonder why so many people are upset over its existence. Tolerance of Christianity could be lower these days than I had expected (at least by the far left goons).
For me, Lent is a season where I take a good hard look at myself and see where I can improve. It is a chance to try and make the journey with Christ to the cross (as ridiculous and impossible as this might sound). Though we would all fall off the path long before ever reaching Jerusalem, we are given the opportunity to try and relate to the ransom that was paid for us. The pithy sacrifices that we make (for me it's alcohol and online poker this year) are supposed to bring to our attention the ultimate sacrifice that was made for us. Though they don't compare, they are a constant reminder of the season and the inconvenience keeps me aware of what was actually done for us many years ago.
As I sat at Mass tonight and watched as the folks received the ashes on their foreheads, I felt a strong sense of unity and pride about my faith and our community (and I was vaguely reminded of the cover of Fire of Unknown Origin by Blue Oyster Cult). The coolest part was seeing familiar faces there that I hadn't expected seeing. It made things feel more united, at least for me.
There came a day when I realized that Easter was way more important of a holiday than Christmas. From that moment, I've gained a much deeper appreciation for the season of Lent. There is a bright and wonderful light at the end of the tunnel, and the journey is certainly worth the prize. Lent is a time where we must focus on becoming better Christians. What does this mean? Nurture your relationship with the Lord and love others with all your heart. If you're still the same person by Easter, then you've wasted a golden opportunity. Time in this world is short. How can I do something worthwhile with my time? What can I do to help the guy next to me? WWJD?
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Also started the fantasy baseball draft for the year. I got pick 14 out of 15 guys. I'm used to late picks these days. Man I am getting the itch for baseball. Tigers Weekly will soon be back in full force.
Song Currently on WinAmp: CD in the mix right now. The song is "Spain" by Three Dog Night. This greatest hits CD is dynamite. It's one of the best CD's for easy listening on a lazy day. It's 20 tracks long, but plays through rather quickly. Favorite song on the disc is track three, "Family of Man."
Two Steps Forward - Two Steps Back
