Great Lent: time for repentence

Halo!

Last time I wrote here, lots of things were stagnant. My prayer was not moving, school life was slow and outside was constantly snowing and cold. Now, it is spring outside (well, almost you can never be too sure with Michigan's weather).

Great Lent has started 4 days ago. I've been going to the readings of Canon of St. Andrew every day this week, except Monday. It's a canon about forgiveness and repentance, through we may achieve salvation. I started to think about it more, and realized how through forgiving others we put ourselves low and make ourselves humble in front of others. I think to truly forgive one another, we should say how we have done wrong to this person in specific terms. Of course, this wouldn't apply to the people we don't know (unless we have wronged them in thoughts). But to others it could apply. Imagine the outrage and the humility that will come with it! I think we should take time from our lives to think of how we have done wrong to each other, how we hurt one another, and ask God for forgiveness. He will forgive! He's merciful, and just like in marriage, He will always turn his hands towards us and forgive wholeheartedly!

My hopes for this Great Lenten period is acquiring humility, forgiveness of others, love towards family and closed ones, appreciation for what has been given to me, decrease of a voice called pride, and finding out what's ahead in my life! It is so exciting. Lent IS the period to start thinking about these things, and I pray that I remain strong not to succumb to temptations.

About 2 weeks ago during my spring break, I visited a monastery in Jackson, MI. It was a wonderful stay, I had a chance to hang out with a friend, nuns there, and had time to pray by myself for a while. It is such a great spiritual place, made for growth for others. What a blessing to stay there and witness the obedience of nuns and novices towards each other and towards their Heavenly Father. It shows that a human being doesn't need much, but to pray and give thanks. We can survive on a bare minimum. A friend sent me a video showing Romanian hermit nuns and monks, who live out in the wilderness, in caves and do not show their faces to anyone. I thought it was such a strong testimony to today's world, where Iphones are replacing face-to-face conversations and headphones occupy people's ears on buses. Something to think about, I guess.

Blessings,
Darina