Sacrifice

Now that Ash-Wednesday and Lent are here I wanted to take a moment to reflect on sacrifice. As everyone is preparing to give up some form of comfort this lent (whether they are major or minor), it is important to remember the sacrifice is not about misery. The reason we give up things that make us happy during Lent is not to be miserable, it is to help us realize that the things we are giving up never actually made us happy in the first place.

Happiness comes from God and God alone and all we have to do is align with God’s will in order to find discover this happiness. Happiness is a way of being in the world, which is forgiving, kind, and merciful and once this is realized and put into effect, all the things in our life become an expression of happiness not it’s source. Anything else is a delusion that will ultimately make us miserable.

Sacrifice is always about giving up the lesser (a delusion) for the greater (the truth) and the truth always brings joy and fulfillment because God IS good. It true, the lesser can often be very difficult to give up, because it is familiar, but the greater is always worth the temporary anguish. So, this Lent really try to be grateful for the opportunity to let a delusion go to discover truth.