Fridays in Lent

In the season of Lent, abstinence from meat is required of most Catholics on Fridays as a meditation on the mystery of the death of Christ. Abstinence in a 12 step program also means giving up the compulsive behavior associated with consuming a particular substance. 

Today's readings remind us of the reason why we fast (abstain, give up something). All power to perform the tasks our Christian baptismal promises require comes from the merits of the Cross. Our fasting helps us to enter into this mystery and to receive greater power to love. If we are fasting and become sad and depressed people who take it out on our brothers and sisters, we are of no use in building up the kingdom. 

True fasting = greater charity.

A friend of mine posted a link to a comical blog post satirically poking fun at this reality. If you give up meat just to eat a whole medium cheese pizza, are you really fasting? If you give up coffee and without it you are a bear, is it worth giving up the coffee? I tried that once. Never again. 

God grant me the power to carry out the fasts that you want me to undertake. Help me to enter into the real reason for fasting. Through this fast, make me love you and my neighbor more. 

Ash Wednesday and Haiti

I'm starting the holy season of Lent in Port Au Prince, Haiti, where I've been for the last three days. Although our group from Hands Together is returning today, this Ash Wednesday in Haiti puts the coming days of Lent into perspective for us as we come home to snowy Massachusetts. 

We have seen the poorest of the poor here in the Cite du Soleil and in Gonaïves.

We have seen children who have nothing, and who live without much hope of a better future. 

But we have also seen the work of the Church and of other organizations that help to restore this hope through education, food programs, ecological renewal, and most importantly love. 

Through the work of Hands Together, we have seen the most desert covered mountains turned into life sustaining forests. 

We have seen new life and hope in Haiti.

And so as we begin Ash Wednesday, all that we are and have is put into perspective. 

It is easier to give up what we truly don't need, because there are people out there who don't have what they truly need. 

It is easier to fast in solidarity with those who hunger. 

It is easier to pray to our God who gives us life, because there are those who live in danger of losing theirs each day. 

It is easier to start Lent in Haiti. I hope and pray that your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have the poorest of the poor in mind. 

 

Coldest Day 5k

On Saturday I ran in the Coldest Day 5k, benefitting the Springfield Rescue Mission. The race started at the Mission and followed the Riverwalk and over a large footbridge that had not been cleared of what seemed at times a foot of snow. Icy and snowy conditions made this certainly a "coldest day" for the 5k, following in the footsteps of the homeless. 

While those of us who are blessed with homes and transportation are complaining about all the snow, however justified our complaints, it's absolutely frightening to realize the fact that the homeless struggle to stay alive during all this piling snowfall. 

Homelessness is not just an urban problem. It's an issue that has hit home to me. My mom recently lost her apartment, and is struggling to find a new apartment that will accept a section 8 voucher. With waiting lists in the 1-2 year range in some areas, the housing situation for low income families and single people with disabilities is staggeringly poor. For me, running in this race was not only practice for the upcoming 10k, but a race for a cause that needs a lot of attention. 

Since my mom is staying with me for a bit, she came with me to the race to cheer me on. Mom decided to walk with a friend she made that morning. Though I can't put into words what she must have been thinking while walking, I can say that I was thankful that she was there with me, and hasn't yet found herself on the street. 

On a more technical note, race-wise I was surprised how I held up during the  icy conditions. I had a goal of 40:00 with just an abstract idea of what the race would be like. The film crew showed up from Catholic Communications to shoot a couple areas of the race. Knowing they were out there spurred me on, even though portions got slow because of the depth of snow. Coming down off the bridge was certainly an experience. I finished in 43 ish minutes, happy I made it through. A fellow runner took this "action shot" during the race on that icy bridge:

On to the St Pat's day 10k! 

Deflating the Super Bowl, winning

Pats won! No surprise that I'm a proud New Englander this morning. I meant to blog yesterday, but seeing as it was Sunday, I was pretty busy. There's a lot on my plate right now, as I need to deal with a serious family issue as well as rehearse for an upcoming show. 

Luckily there was not a ton on my plate last evening! Here are some tips that I again should have uploaded yesterday so as to help those struggling to make it through the game without overdoing it. 

1. Get your workout in!

2. Track your food, no matter what it is. Log it before you eat it.

3. Sit away from the food. Try not to have it in between you and the screen. 

4. Limit alcohol consumption. Watch the calories in your beer! 

5. Drink water to stay hydrated and make you feel fuller. 

6. Obsess over the game and the commercias rather than the food.

7. Try, don't indulge. Try your favorite foods, and limit to one trip for them. 

8. Have your team win the Super Bowl!