The Lenten journey

There is an African proverb recounted in different stories that tells of a teacher who found on the teacher’s desk a gift from one of the students. The gift was a beautiful and expensive seashell. The teacher knew that the family could not afford such a gift. The teacher also knew that the shell could only be found on the beach of a secluded bay many miles away.

The teacher saw the student and was most thankful for the gift. The teacher then said, “You walked many miles to get this shell, didn’t you?” The student nodded, smiled and replied, “The walk is part of the gift.”

Our Lenten season is a walk to the foot of the cross of Good Friday. Whatever we do in the principal areas of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the effort is part of our offering to God.

For example, simply praying before meals requires little effort. The effort to add time in a busy life to pray is part of the gift of prayer. It takes little effort to give up chocolate-covered rutabagas for Lent.