I was in Denver, CO a few years ago for a work meeting. As I settled into my LaQuinta hotel room for takeout dinner, I watched a clip of Curtis Martin on YouTube. If you’re unfamiliar with Curtis, he founded FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and has impacted many, many people in the years since.
In this particular clip, he spoke passionately about going further in our personal relationship with Christ. Going further in sacrifice. Going further in commitment. Going further in accountability. In other words, being stretched by the Lord for the sake of ourselves but just as importantly, for the sake of others.
For whatever reason, that particular message stuck with me.
I watch dozens of YouTube videos each week so for one to really stand out, it’s really something. As the coronavirus has impacted all of us this Lent, Curtis’ message has resonated with me time and time again. I’ve felt the Lord saying, “Mike, can you do a little bit more?”
Admittedly, I’m too much of a wimp to commit to going very far. A little bit though, that I can do. Thankfully, much of life is bit by bit. As the saying goes, “inch by inch is a cinch, yard by yard is hard”. One prayer at a time? I can do that. One sacrifice more? I can do that. One quiet act of humility? I can do that.
Catholics are good at offering things up and in that school, I get solid marks. Sacrifices are inescapable in the Christian life and with the coronavirus, we’ve all had to make a lot of sacrifices.
How about you? Have you felt God inviting you this Lent to be stretched?
For our family, Lent has been odd to say the least. Consider the following:
One child is away from home. Stretch.
Three kids are home doing online learning. Stretch.
We barely leave the house due to the stay-at-home order here in PA. Stretch.
My 13 year old had to be quarantined in her room for 8 days until we finally got her Covid-19 results. Stretch. (Btw, she tested negative)
Then, why-now-Lord… my eye began giving me trouble. I have occasional duct blockage which leads to swelling. It’s super uncomfortable since you blink like a million times a day. Stretch.
Our churches are shut down so we can’t receive the Eucharist or go to confession. Stretch.
“We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves we flounder: we need the Lord, like ancient navigators needed the stars. ”
My stretches are small compared to those who have serious ailments or are in the hospital. Thankfully, we don’t have to compare suffering in order to find meaning. Our stretches are real, no matter how small.
Something’s emerged from all of this: I can do a bit more. You can too. These sacrifices and inconveniences, taken together are too much. They overwhelm us and at worst, can lead to despair. But, and here’s the good news, if we take each challenge as one-at-a-time, we can do it.
I can do a little bit more and so can you.
Pope Francis said in his historic blessing of the world on March 27, “We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves we flounder: we need the Lord, like ancient navigators needed the stars. Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives.” If lent is our current journey, wrapped in a big dose of coronavirus, let’s ask the Lord for the grace to do a bit more.
