You May be Out of Shape, But You’re Still in the Race

This is a race we want to win!

Well we’re into our second week of Lent, how are you doing with your Lenten resolution? Is it bringing you closer to God and sainthood? Have you fallen already? Are you in the do-I or don’t-I circle of deciding whether Sundays are off days? Is it time for your Lenten pep talk? If so, keep reading! (If not, still, keep reading!)

Let me let you in on a Lenten secret… Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Our Creator breathed life into us knowing that this Lent we were going to honor Him successfully at some times and less so at others. He made us for the marathon of life, so we needn’t let some of the shorter sprints get us down. We are in the race and we have an omnipotent and omniscient Coach on our side.

I was super excited to go to Theology on Tap yesterday because the topic was on becoming a saint – and I want to share two highlights with you. First, remember that desiring to be a saint is the first step to sainthood. This does not work with running – wanting to run a marathon will not get you there! However, asking God for help and endurance, to know His will and to trust that He will give you the holy equivalent of Gatorade and gumption is enough to get you started in the right direction.

Secondly, realize that you don’t have to do wonderful miraculous things in this life to become a saint in the next. I learned more about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha this week (who is scheduled for canonization later this year) and was really encouraged by what a humble person she was. She died at 24 and lived her short life serving children and elderly, while performing great penances. She is an inspiration to those of us who have jobs, family responsibilities, and other duties because she gives us an example that is do-able. We can make time to serve those who are less fortunate than us. Her short but holy life provides us with a warm-up or template that we can model our own saint marathon-run after.

So we’re running the race to sainthood, and we might be going strong or we may be out of breath, but regardless, we can turn to the Saints for a jolt of energy, an example, a song for our “pump it up” workout playlist. What songs encourage you toward sainthood? My recommendation for this week is “When the Saints Go Marching in!!” Just remember these words when you’re struggling this Lent or through any struggles to help push you through that wall….”Oh Lord I want to be in that number, when the Saints go marching in!”