Recently I took a Zoom class on the Twelve Step Program by Bill Wilson through the Center for Action and Contemplation. It was based on a book by Fr. Richard Rohr OFM, who
also hosted the class. He spoke often about using our heart,
mind, and spirit in transforming our lives. Many of us spend our
lives trying to be good enough for God’s love—to be worthy—
to earn God’s love and attention.

Fr. Rohr said, “ There is no accounting for God’s
love. God’s love is not earned. There is nothing we can do to
attain it or even lose it. All we can do is surrender to it, trust
it, and let it flow through us. The significant difference is not
between those who are worthy of God’s love and those who
are unworthy (of God’s love). We are all in various degrees of
unworthiness. The only significant difference is between those
who know and enjoy God’s love and those who do not know
and enjoy this total gift. That is a major transformation of consciousness! It moves us from life as an obstacle course to be
endured, to life as a banquet to be eaten and shared. It moves
religion from fear to love.”

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day this weekend, Fat
Tuesday (Mardi Gras) on Tuesday, and the beginning of Lent
on Ash Wednesday, may we realize that in God’s dependable
and ever present love for us, we can grow in love for each other. We can enjoy the celebration of life in relationships. We can
be assured of God’s eternal love for each one of us. Lent helps
us to surrender to, trust in, and let God’s love flow through us
to all those we encounter.

Have a joyful transformative week!

P.S. Random acts of kindness show our trust in God’s love for

us!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Joyous Tummy Tickling Mardi
Gras! Transforming Ash Wednesday! That’s a stretch of emotions in just 4 days! But we all have someone we love; we all
have a favorite “forbidden” food; we all have the desire to know
and experience God’s love for us.

These emotions can all demonstrate a few common
threads. How many times do we look at those we love and
wish we had said or done something differently—if we could
only take it back. How many times have we berated ourselves
for eating or drinking too much? How many times do we wonder where God is in our situations—does He even know we are
here, does he hear me? These are all “look back” reactions—
you cannot change the past, it is over.

How many times have you daydreamed about “fixing”
the one you love, helping them to change, tweaking a behavior
that is annoying? How many times have we said that Monday
we will start that diet or next time I won’t drink so much? How
many times did we wonder if I will ever be good enough to be
worthy of God’s love? The future has not occurred and we can
only change it by living in the present.

The present is where we meet ourselves, our loved
ones, our God! It is the only time that we can affect, change, or
transform anyone, especially ourselves!