It's time for Lent! I really do love the Lenten season. I'd only be fooling myself if I said it was my favorite season (no, that would be Easter and Christmas), but I definitely love the opportunity to deeply prepare for Easter and immerse myself in the realization of how much I truly need a Savior. It helps that I am a singer. I usually always have a tune in my head, and when I am preparing during the week to sing at Sunday Mass, then the tune is usually a hymn. Right now, I'm on "Create in Me a Clean Heart," a very fitting one for Lent. Hope I can keep that one at the front of my brain for a while -- think how much easier it should be to keep out of trouble!
In addition, on Ash Wednesday when we are called to fasting and abstinence (limited intake and no meat at all), I am reminded of how good the gift of food is from our very good Father. I went without breakfast this morning and just finished lunch: a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese. Boy did that taste good! The bagel was nice and warm, and the sesame taste was so delicious with a very pleasant aroma. A simple meal but so good.
I'm thinking how pleasant other foods are, especially when you are very hungry. Several years back, I met my friend Pat on a fourth of July morning. We were going to have breakfast together and then watch a parade and enjoy some other Independence Day festivities. I didn't eat anything at home, and probably met her around 9:00. Because of the holiday, many restaurants were closed, so we were walking around and around looking for some place that served breakfast. We had parked our car some blocks back: the parade and festival area was strictly foot traffic only. Finally we found a diner, a Greek one, but they wouldn't be open for another thirty minutes. We walked around a little more, and came back just as they were opening the doors. I remember to this day the smell and taste of the spinach, feta, and tomato omelette that I had. Pat said, "At times when I am really hungry, that is when I am most thankful to God for the gift of food." I was sure thankful that day, and I am sure thankful now.