We often enter Lent with a sincere desire to show up for God, only to find the "busy" of life standing in the way. But what happens when our best intentions fail? Sometimes God has a remarkable way of getting our attention when we least expect it.
Making Space for God in a Busy World
The Lenten season reminds us of our identity, “Who We Are,” and our relationship with God, “Of Whose We Are.”
Our response to this reality during the 40 days of Lent is reflected in how we live and make our choices.
With 365 days in a year — each with 24 hours — God gives us countless moments to pause and reflect.
By doing so, we allow ourselves to be renewed and notice the blessings, graces, and mercies that God has in store for us from the moment we open our eyes in with each new day.
Isn't it amazing to think about God's gestures to sustain us? Unfortunately, many of us fail to recognize their impact.
It has become a common practice for most of us to overlook this opportunity. We charge it to our busy lives—multi-tasking here and there because we're juggling more than we can handle.
We are always in the fast lane because of how life has become.
And, every year, there are two significant times in the universal Church when we are especially called to prepare ourselves for the Lord:
- Advent, the season of waiting and anticipation, and
- Lent, the period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter.
Advent lasts four Sundays and always begins on the Sunday following the three Sundays leading up to Christmas.
The first Sunday of Advent is closest to the Feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle, on November 30.
I’ve always loved the Christmas season, but Advent has taken on a deeper meaning for me over the years. Since discovering the St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena in 2012, I’ve come to treasure the quiet anticipation and prayerful preparation it invites.
Lent: A Season of Reflection and Return
On the other hand, Lent has 40 days, from Ash Wednesday to Easter, excluding Sundays.
It is the most incredible story ever told of God’s profound love and desire to save us from ourselves and worldly things. It sounds like a cliché because it is true. Lent or not.
Ash Wednesday arrived. We lined up to the altar to mark our foreheads with the ashes at the conclusion of the Mass.
Recalling I have created this blog site to share my thoughts with you, my hope is that by sharing my experiences, one can relate to them and find comfort in the fact that together, we advance in our spiritual pursuits.
At our own pace, the journey we thread is unique to each one of us, and there is a right time for everything, including spiritual growth..
When God Interrupts Our Routine
This is why I share my thoughts here with you. So, I will start with Ash Wednesday
We know that Lent reminds us of our eventual return to God. To examine our conscience and reflect on the wrong things we have done, knowingly or unknowingly is in itself a blessing—a gift to our soul.
During these 40 days, it isn't a waste of time to consider making reparations and making amends moving forward.
What I realized is that once the things we've lost sight of that make us lean closer to God were brought to consciousness, we're compel us to course-correct. It's like a seed that's taking roots again.
Finding Christ in the Digital Quiet
Moving on to February 16th, the first Friday of Lent—
During my morning prayer, I expressed my intention to visit Jesus at some point during the day when the Most Blessed Sacrament is exposed, for people to revere.
Although I got busy with my daily routine, the thought remained with me— hard to shake it off.
A Sacred Surprise on the First Friday
It felt like an unbreakable promise that I made to myself and to Jesus that I had to fulfill.
However, as the hours passed, it became less and less feasible, which I am not proud of admitting here.
This is what happened, I did a live video on my Facebook page that afternoon. Like I'd normally do, I watched the video immediately to critique myself.
And yes, I am my worst critic! Anyway, that’s what I did—watched my video.
To my surprise, as soon as the video ended playing, the live adoration on the EWTN page played next!
Speaking of being taken by total surprise, what did I do next? I did what I was supposed to do—I dropped everything I planned to do.
That was Jesus in front of me, on my laptop LIVE!
Here is what got me moved and felt so loved by Him— I was struggling to find the time to visit Him, and it was bothering me that I couldn't keep my promise.
Something heavenly happened. Jesus met me— not just halfway, but where I was. He knew of my intentions and understood that I would be hard on myself if I wouldn't keep my promise to Him that day.
With His unfathomable mercy and vast understanding, He made the move Himself as spending time with Him is what makes Him happiest.
I am grateful for His presence in my life and every effort He makes so I keep my thoughts fixated on Him.
The Gift of Serving at the Lord's Table
Alright, so moving on to the first Sunday of Lent, February 18th.
Chosen to Bring the Gifts
At our parish, right before the Mass, a staff randomly selects who will bring the bread and wine to the altar during the presentation of the gifts.
That said, when the staff walked in our direction, I felt a sense of excitement—I had a feeling that something wonderful was about to happen!
I felt overjoyed the entire time, knowing my husband and I would have a special role in the Mass!
The fact that it happened on the first Sunday of Lent made it twice as meaningful to me.
I thanked God repeatedly for this blessing, especially the minute we processed down the aisle with the gifts and handed them to the priest at the foot of the altar.
God’s Gentle Invitations
God surely knows how to make us happy.
You see, we've only had this same opportunity, probably not even ten times in the decade we've been with the parish, which is why the feeling never gets old.
I treasure it like a precious blessing, each and every time.
Thank you for reading this. Remember, wherever you are in the world, we are in this journey together.
If this story touched your heart, I invite you to sit a while longer with "When Heaven Meets Earth," a story on the thin veil between worlds.
Another article that I think you'd like its the grace-filled "Corrected in Love, Not Shamed." It's another deep dive at how God guides us with gentleness.
If the stories shared speak to your heart, I’d love to connect with you on Facebook.
Many Blessings, Emilie
A Note from my Heart
I’m Emilie, a seeker of faith who finds God in the quiet pews and the divine surprises of everyday life. I write these reflections to invite you into a slower, more soulful way of seeing the world.