Happy Fat Tuesday!  Lent is literally just around the corner!  In fact, by the time you’ve read this it may likely have begun!  To me, Lent is a time to look inward – to peek into ourselves in a way we might not take the time to do throughout the entire year.  But what’s more important than looking inward is what comes out after the fact, right?  If our Lent is all leading to Jesus dying, being placed in the tomb, and RISING – then surely there is something that’s meant to RISE from us as well.  Perhaps this reflection is coming 40 days too soon, but I’d like to think this is about helping give ourselves purpose during this penitential season.  There is a quote that is often attributed to Nelson Mandela, although it you research online you will find there is a lot of debate over it and that it more probably belongs to a Marianne Williamson.  I don’t care as much about who said it as what it says…

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Lately I’ve got an itch of sorts.  I feel all this potential bubbling up inside of me, and it sometimes feels like there is nowhere to let it out, nowhere to set it free, nowhere to let it gleam.  I think when we get over ourselves and start pouring ourselves into others, it happens naturally, and I’ve been starting to feel that too.  We talked about this all the time at my alma mater, Loras College.  Share your gifts, let your light shine, become the best version of yourself.  What’s most exciting is that not only I become more free, but those around me as well, and vice versa!  This is a great way to start your Lent.  It’s not about us, but about all that we have to give over!

LOOKING IN THE MIRROR

Standing here
Looking in the mirror
There is a fire
Buried in my eyes

A holy light
Meant to shine
It’s burning bright
But it’s tucked inside

A prisoner
With no escape
My very joy
Condemned to the stake

O happy song
Hidden too long
Be released
O glowing beam

Let it out!
Set it free!
Let it gleam!

The masquerade
Too long I’ve played
Will dissipate
When I can say

I am a light
I’m meant to shine
I will burn bright
This is my time

Let it out!
Set it free!
Let it gleam!

It’s easy to wait
To hesitate
To allow fate
To dictate
The path to your dreams

Let it out!
Set it free!
Let it gleam!

Standing here
Looking in the mirror
There is a fire
Buried in my eyes