As a child, I was taught to give up something for Lent. I was not taught, or I missed this part of the instruction if I was, the reason why I give something up for Lent. Oh yes, I was told that such acts would make me holy and pleasing to God. But really, what does that mean, especially to a seven year old?

Today, I believe giving “things” up or letting them go, will make me a more complete person in contact with the real world around me, i.e. holier (read healthier) person. Julio Gil illustrates this well in his July 2017 Ted Talk Future Tech Will Give You the Benefits of City Life Anywhere. After noting today’s trend of everyone rushing to the city, fleeing the rural areas in search of “…more jobs opportunities, easier access to services and goods and a rich social life.” Gil points out how through modern technology, we can have all this as well as the benefits of country life, i.e. fresh air, closer contact with nature, and a richer community life by moving back to the country.

Lent comes from the Old English word Lenten meaning Spring or the time of the year when the days are lengthening. As the days lengthen, the earth warms and from the rotting frozen earth of winter, spring the new life of earlier planted seeds. Evidently, we work the same way. I can’t wait to find a new life Gil talks about above, out in the country (rotting frozen life of last 300 years). Wanna come along?

Posted by Dan O’Donnell, a layman who has covenanted with the Chicago Community of Passionist Partners. In addition to the standard covenant, Dan promises to work at connecting all partners known and unknown, to a conscious following the the way of Jesus, the way of the cross which Dan believes transforms all failure, democratizing the human journey

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We are a community of laymen and laywomen who, with vowed Passionists, seek to share in the charism of St. Paul of the Cross through prayer, ongoing spiritual formation, and proclamation of the message of Christ Crucified.