It's been a strange week.
But I'll start briefly with last week. I had a great time in Duluth and the cities. Every time I connect with the staff team, friends and ministry partners I am deeply encouraged and reminded how blessed I am to have relationships with such amazing people. It's awesome.
I was in Apple Valley Friday night and got to meet my adorable new Goddaughter, Faith, and have dinner with my cousins. I ran into some car trouble and was about ready to have a sleepover party at Dan and Bobbie's but my dad is amazing and helped me over the phone. All I had to do was wiggle the wires attached to my battery.
Really?
Yep, that was it. The car started right up and off I went.
Side note...if you can wiggle the wires, that's not a good thing so you should probably tighten them up so you don't run into the same problem I did.
I made it back late that night and slept hard. I woke up the next morning to my alarm going off, not sure where I was or what I had to get up for. In my daze I shut off the alarm and went back to sleep until my mom came in and asked if I was going with her and my sister to an auction in Mankato.
I really wanted to spend time with them, so I quickly got up and ready and out the door. I experienced my first true auction that day. The auctioneer did talk a mile a minute like the John Michael Montgomery song "Sold" suggests. I was entertained at first but then I started to not feel well.
Enters in the not-so-fun part of my time back home. For the next two days I felt super crummy but wasn't sure what was going on. I didn't go ice fishing with the kids like I had planned, nor did I greatly enjoy the birthday party on Sunday just because all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch.
That night I started throwing up and it lasted until the next evening. That pretty much wiped me out for another full day.
Dislike.
Yet I should count my blessings, and the fact that I was at home with my amazing mom during this was a huge help. Thank you!
Today I didn't spend the whole day in bed, got back in touch with reality and worked on fund development and our upcoming campus outreach. I started eating more normally and my energy returned. It feels good to be restored back to health. May I never take that for granted!
Tonight I went to Ash Wednesday Mass with my mom, Jackie and Emily. I don't think I have been back at Sacred Heart on Ash Wednesday since I was in high school.
It made me miss journeying through the Lenten season here. I miss the richness the catholic church brings to this time of the year.
I greatly appreciated Fr. Marty's words to everyone that this would truly be a different Lenten season than any other because of the ways we would encounter a living God who loves us and transforms us. He called people into a season of conversion if they had never truly known the love of Christ before and only had gone through the motions all their lives. He called us to repent and turn to Jesus. He called us to invite others into knowing God.
All the words were simple, yet were what I needed to hear.
I fear I have become complacent with an off-kilter spiritual life as of late. A kind of "going through the motions" period.
It's easy to justify actions, attitudes and thoughts when you're in this place. It's easy to want to give up. It's easy to listen to lies.
If you know what I'm talking about, too, please don't give up or give in. Keep pressing forward! Let's do it together as brothers and sisters. Back in Bemidji, we are gearing up for a big outreach on campus. I anticipate the battle will get stronger and more wearing as the week approaches. Friends, let's fight! We need to!
A dear friend sent me this song last week. We haven't talked for a long time but as she listened to the song she felt a nudge to send it to me. I have always appreciated her for responding to those nudges from the Holy Spirit.
The ashes are still on my forehead. When I wash them off with soap and water, Jesus, would I not forgot their meaning and purpose.
May this Lenten season be truly different.
