Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.

There is need of only one thing.

Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her.

Luke 10: 41-42

Some lessons are difficult to learn. It seems that there are some things about which we have to be reminded over and over again. A light goes off... we get it... and then maybe a few weeks or months later ... we head right back down the same road that does not lead to life. And the cycle starts over again. At least, this is the case for me.

This Lenten season I find myself coming back to a realization I've had many times over. There is need for only one thing. Like Peter who tries to walk on water, unless you keep your eyes (and heart and mind!) focused on God... you're sunk, so to speak.

Lent has always been a time for me to re-evaluate my relationships - with God, others, and myself and to be open to the grace that can reconcile relationships that are wounded by my short-sidedness. Lent has always been a fruitful time for me. So, as Lent began this year so did my typical self examination.

And what did I find? Well, to put it briefly, I found that I have been living in a constant state of self-evaluation (self focus) these past months without being centered or focused on God. In other words, I had become self-absorbed. I had become so wrapped up in noise and recognition of personal faults that I lost sight of the one necessary thing. Some people call it naval gazing - when a person is so focused on what's "wrong with me", that the person can't see what's Good and right with the world nor the hear call to respond to what's not right with the world. *sigh* This is not the first time. Thank you to my spiritual director for pointing out the obvious!

Hince, the real cause of my blogging absence... truth be told.

Therfore, this Lent I am responding to God's call, "Come back to me, with all your heart..." And that call is the source of Lenten joy for me...

Until next time...
Lenten blessings to all who read this!
Sr. N


P.S. ~ Next time I blog, I will fill you in on the exciting things that have been happening in the life of this Marianist sister... a gathering of women religious in Phoenix, celebrations of Marianist founders & Marianist charism, the chapter meeting of our province, an open letter to Oprah written by young women religious... Wow... there's a lot!