Tips to make the remainder of Lent more meaningful

Here are a few tips that I came across, expanded with a few of my personal thoughts, and adapted to local conditions.

1. Slow down.

It’s healthy for the mind and body to have at least 10 minutes of the day in silent prayer or meditation. It will revitalize your body and your spirit. Think about your pain and joys; think about others’ pains and joys. It’s a great way to find firm ground to start or continue with your day.

2. Read a good book.

Choose the life of a saint, a spiritual how-to, an inspirational book, or one of the Pope’s new books. Read a page or two in one sitting and find parallelisms in life.

Or it’s a good time to pick up your Bible and choose relevant pages that will inspire you to reflect and meditate on all the goodness that the Lord has given you and your family.

3. Be kind.

Go out of your way to do something nice for someone, not just today but every day even if it’s no longer Lent. You’d be surprised at how quick your daily stresses melt away. Best of all, you help other people find some happiness – and perhaps they too may be contaminated with such acts of kindness.

4. Get involved.

Find a community advocacy that you can participate in. There’s so many people that need help: senior citizens who’ve been thrown out of their family homes; children who need tutoring; young adults who just need some good, sound advice.

5. Volunteer at your parish.

Whether it’s the parish fish fry, cleaning the church, or helping with the food drive, it will give you a chance to help others. Ask what you can do, and you’ll realize that there’s no limit to your good intentions.

6. Reach out.

Invite your neighbor or officemate to share reflections about God or other people. Being a good Christian isn’t just hearing the Holy Mass on Sundays. Praying does not necessarily mean kneeling alone in the Church and reciting prayers.

7. Pray.

Think about people you don’t like and people who don’t like you. Pray for them; pray for yourself. Don’t forget that Lent is a time for forgiveness and repentance.

8. Tune out.

In this era of smartphones, tablets, the Internet and so many other modern day distractions (malling, food-tripping, etc.), tuning out even for a few hours will be good for the soul.

Turn off your wifi or data plan. Or even your mobile phone if you can. You’d be surprised that it doesn’t hurt not to do so. Deliberately seek out family members or friends and spend quality time talking with them.

9. Clean out closets.

With the extra days away from work, schedule the cleaning of a closet as a must-do. There’s so much stuff that has been accumulated over the year that others could use more than you.

Don’t limit your cleaning out to your clothing cabinet. Give away pots and pans or cutlery that have been replaced by some new items you had bought during the year.

10. Donate and help a charitable institution.

It’s a good time to choose a “favorite” charitable institution if you don’t have one. Make it a habit to bring stuff or send cash to your chosen charity not only once a year, but even once a month. Remember that people who are poor and needy need help on a daily basis.

You can choose to donate to more sustainable programs too, like teaching homeless adolescents with trade skills that will equip them with the tools to earn a living and move on to becoming productive citizens of the community.

Other reminders

Since Lent is also a time of travel for those who choose to visit churches, here are other reminders.

1. Keep the car in fit running condition. Take advantage of the many free check-ups made available by some car companies or service stations. Check your tires, radiator water and oil levels, and even your aircon.

2. Never leave the house without checking if all doors and windows are locked. It’s nice if you have a neighbor who can keep an eye on the house from time to time while you’re away.

Before leaving the house, make sure that the LPG and the stove is turned off, and that light switches (except for the overnight light, if you’ll be away for the next few days) are turned off.

3. Leave enough food and water for the house pets especially if you plan to stay out for more hours than usual.

4. Bring water and light snacks on your trip. Keep hydrated, especially if the summer sun will be really hot and humid. Space your food intake throughout the day to keep you energized to tackle all the planned activities.

5. If you’re bringing children, bring the necessities that you would need to clean them up, especially at the end of the day before they settle in the car for the journey back home.

6. Check the weather and bring the appropriate clothing and accessories (fans if it’s going to be sunny, or umbrellas if there’s rain expected).

Finally, may you celebrate this Lenten season with an open heart that is blessed with the forgiving hands of the Lord. Cleanse your mind, heart and actions, and be the man that will honor Him more.

Have a blessed Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday.

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