Your choice

As it happens, I began reading (or re-reading) James Frey's book entitled A Million Little Pieces just yesterday. As I opened the book and began turning the pages, I can't help thinking that I may very well have read this book before, but like lots of other things, re-doing them adds another dimension. In this case, as I read through the journey of this young man who tells the tale of his life in a rehab centre, I can't help thinking of so many individuals whose paths have crossed mine in the last little while, who themselves are at various stages of living the very same thing. This makes it real.

Addicts cannot deal with their stories until they are willing to admit that something is wrong. Only then can they face the truth (and this is a very difficult decision to make because human nature tries its dardest to convince itself that everything is fine and that life is just grand. As long as we choose to believe this panacea facing the demons is out of the question.

Living Lent is the same thing.

The invitation to enter into this period of purification is issued to all Christians but the degree to which we live it is up to us. Particularly in these introductory days, the scriptures call us to make choices, as though the Lord is inviting us to make up our own minds as to whether or not we're willing to admit that there's something about us that needs to be healed.

The scripture readings for Thursday after Ash Wednesday (that's the official liturgical name for today) set the invitation to words. The writer of the Book of Deutoronomy invites us to choose between life and death. In today's parlance, here's the rub: its up to you to walk this journey. God won't force you to do it, but if you choose to walk, then be prepared to be honest with yourself. That's a tall order, but we're talking about the possibility of life, love and blessings fr0m God. What more could we want?

If for any reason we may still be considering deceiving ourselves by thinking that this is going to be an easy time, the Gospel passage for today pops that bubble right at the start. Jesus had to face suffering before leaving this world (more about that too in later posts) so why would we think that we might be any different, except that he is with us in our suffering, and his presence makes it all bearable and worth it.

Every day is a new opportunity to take up our crosses, to accept the challenges set before us, to admit that we're on the way, and that we can't do this without faith. Each of us has our own cross to bear, just like he did. Perhpas this is the time, right at the outset to begin thinking about the things that are crosses for us, to watch out for these crosses, and to accept them not as burdens, but as opportunities for grace.