An indifferent Lent

Not what's in my lunch

Raspberry yogurt.  It’s my Lenten penance. No, I did not give it up for Lent.  I am eating it for lunch. Every day. Every single day. Or at least until the supermarket starts stocking another flavor. I like raspberry yogurt, but almost three weeks into Lent, the lack of variety in my lunch is getting tough.  So far I’ve resisted driving to another market to see if they stock orange or lime, or any other flavor.

I’m practicing indifference for Lent. Rather than choose to do or avoid any one thing, I am just paying particular attention to the choices I have — and trying to live with what is offered, rather than try enlarge the set of choices I have. It’s meant that I’m eating more meals from what is on hand in the house, rather than pick up what I’m craving any particular night.  And clicking “Yes” on meeting times that aren’t my first (or second or third) choice of time to meet, but that I could make.

I say I subscribe to St. Ignatius’ Principle and Foundation, that my only desire and my one choice is this:  whatever will let God’s life deepen within me.  Today as I listened to the first reading, where Naaman dismisses Elisha's advice to go bathe in the Jordan — what's so special about that river?  nothing! — I thought about what's so hard about raspberry yogurt.  Nothing, except it's what is right front of me.