Genesis 3:19
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Being born into a Catholic family gave me the chance to grow up in a family of Faith and with the knowledge of God, The Father. Baptism marked my welcoming ceremony into a great family – Christianity. Communion signified my acceptance to receive the blood and body of Jesus Christ, upon his sacrifice for me, and Confirmation denoted my further commitment and deeper connection to my Faith. Without mentioning Penance/Confession, as it is part of the six sacraments I can receive (as a woman), having been brought up in a religious family has given me the chance to know my Faith and connect with others on a different platform. As an adult, I have been exposed to other facets of my faith, and while not necessarily following the path of a Catholic, I have still grown in my Faith. As a member of Coastal Church, I have had the great opportunity to deepen my understanding of my Faith through their courses and teachings, and understand The Bible in a way that applies to my life on a daily. Being a member of the Coastal congregation has shed light on different aspects of my Faith – my strengths and weaknesses – and I can only attest to what I have learned so far, and that is, no matter hw conflicted my spirit may be, reading The Bible, and listening to the teachings of Pastor Dave and Pastor Cheryl, while also knowing my God and all he is capable of (what he has done, and all he promised to do, which we need to remind him of), I have come to know myself better. And when I say conflicted, I mean all the chaos that I face on a daily – all the noise that doesn’t align with my spirit, and everything that goes against what I believe in. Through the understanding of myself through Faith, I have been able to gain wisdom and a sense of peace in all things chaotic – life. During this time of Lent, in preparation of Easter (which is not all bunnies, and chocolate), but a time of repentance and growth, I have taken the time to get in touch more with my Faith and connect with others as we walk through the next 31 days since the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Being in church on Ash Wednesday, and receiving my mark of mortality (in the sign of a cross) reminded me of the importance of life – now – and just how precious this gift is. While the ashes remind us of our mortality and sin, the cross reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection (life after death) and forgiveness. It’s a powerful way we experience God’s forgiveness and renewal as we return to Jesus. Lent is the time where we observe a period of spiritual discipline while fasting or attending confession in to be closer to God, and reflect on our inner selves, as Jesus did. What did I give up? Meat. I consume so much that taking it out of my diet was hard, and over the course of he next few weeks, I hope through my sacrifice, I can better understand – even by a small portion – what Jesus Christ experienced.
As I write this, I am listening to Hillsong and preparing for the rest of my day. I woke up today, knowing that I wanted to share with you what I have learned, and am continuously learning. Through this time of self-discipline, I feel as though I am walking a path of clarity because the more I dig deeper into my Faith and my God, the more I become me.
We might take life for granted on some days, but we are truly blessed to be in this moment. When we look at some of the injustices in life, and lengths that some people go to in order to bring awareness to just how important we all are – regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or age – we have to remind ourselves of just how important our lives are and how much of a blessing we are.
Do you feel any moments of clarity during this time of Lent? If not clarity, then what?
Share and enlighten.
– XO
Side note: Now, just because I am talking about a “social taboo,” and while you might not agree with what I have to say, this is my opinion. This is what I have to say on the matter. Religion is a very important part of my life, and I am a happy person from knowing my God. I am not hear to preach to you about Faith, or what you should be and shouldn’t be doing. I am just sharing what I have learned and continue to learn as I walk on this path. You may not believe in God, or anything at all, and that is totally acceptable in life. Just do not view this is an attempt to convert you because I am trying to do the opposite. This is my view, and my view alone.
... S. xo
