On Fat Tuesday, my coworkers and I went out for a happy hour. They know that I’m a fairly devout Catholic, so they asked what I was giving up for Lent. I rambled off a list of items and mentioned some of the things I was going to take on as well. After a few good laughs and jokes at my expense, the conversation subsided and that was that.

Then on Ash Wednesday, one of my friends at the office sent me a hilarious greeting card for the occasion.

http://www.someecards.com

Of course I laughed. I have a sense of humor and it made me think about how many people miss the meaning of Lent. Sure, I joke about going on the Lenten Diet plan, but I realize that it’s for a greater purpose. Giving up beer, candy, clothes shopping and Dr. Pepper for forty days (and then some) doesn’t make me Mother Teresa. It does, however, give me an opportunity to control the desires of my flesh and practice abstinence from the worldly things that can knock me off the path to holiness.

While perusing the web recently, I came across this very helpful website about Ignatian Spirituality. I consider this method of prayer and daily living one that fits closest to my walk with Christ, so to stumble upon this website right before Lent, seemed a little like fate. http://ignatianspirituality.com/lent/
(Note: To quote Fr. Flynn, it’s never too late to have a good Lent. Check out the readings and meditations on the Ignatia Spirituality website)

IgnatianSpirituality.com has this to say about Lent, “Lent is a season of repentance and renewal. We turn away from our sinfulness and recommit ourselves to following Jesus.” It’s not that eating M&Ms is a sin, but giving up little indulgences can be a steady reminder that we are not slaves to the desires of our flesh. With God at the center of our lives, He is in control. By practicing self control during this “desert”, we can recommit to following Jesus and the path he has for us.

Join the Virtual March for Life! It’s super easy. Enter your name and location, then pick an avatar and you’ll get placed on the National lawn next to the other virtual marchers!

If you can make it to Mass tonight or tomorrow, go for it! Wear a rose, a pro-life shirt or whatever you can to show your outward support for life. Join with hundreds of thousands of Americans as we pray for the unborn, mothers and for all of our law makers. Especially during the crucial time in our country, your prayers matter. Life hangs in the balance and it’s up to us to storm Heaven with our avid intentions for the protection of life. The election of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has shown us that this fight is far from over. Even this pro-abortion senator recognizes the evils found in the current health care reform legislation, and he’s out to make a difference.

The Mass at the National Cathedral is tonight, so I’m really wishing I was in DC right about now. It’s my first time to miss it in two years. I’m already looking forward to next year’s trip!

So, I fell off the blogging wagon during Advent. What’s new, right? I think it’s time to finally admit that writing for a living takes away the time I would like to spend writing for fun. What a shame! However, I’m trying to write less thoughtful blogs on my Tumblr account, so if you want to keep up with the random side of me, check that out.

http://abigailrenee.tumblr.com/

I connected that account to my Twitter account, so if I tweet, it will show up on Tumblr and vice versa. All of this technology is confusing, I know. Thank goodness for the “Connect” option.

Back to the reason for this post, to announce my theme songs for 2010. I’m sure you’re itching to know. Click on the song title to pull up a YouTube video, Lala player or Myspace page and listen to the  song.

1. “Empty Me” by Jeremy Camp

2. “Letting Go” by Matt Maher

3. “This is the New Year” by Ian Axel

4. “Once was Love” by Ingrid Michaelson

5. “Corner” by Allie Moss

Just a side note about the first song on my list.  I was on my way to home for the holidays and I was listening to a book on CD, “A Life with Karol: My Forty-Year Friendship with the Man Who Became Pope“. In the story, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz talked about the moments before the conclave that named Karol Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II. The then, Fr. Wojtyla knew if he accepted the role  he would be the pope that brought our world into the 21st century.

He knew the great responsibility that rested on his shoulders, and he took the position. And here we are in 2010, 10 years after the beginning of the new millennium, and what is new? How is Pope John Paul II message of love, evangelization and peace being lived in our world? He was a man of great holiness and it was because he emptied himself completely to the will of Chirst. What a beautiful testimony to faith! Then I heard “Empty Me” by Jeremy Camp and his lyrics spoke directly to the whisperings of my heart and that of “my pope”.

Give each of these songs a listen and let me know what you think. Who knows, you may find a new song to love.