Well here we are at Lent again and it's time for that old Catholic question, "What do I give up for Lent?" This year I suggest giving up...nothing! Let's just try adding something to our lives, namely real balance to our lives.

How many times do we catch ourselves saying: "My life is out of control. I'm running in circles!"? Maybe this is the time to stop and readjust the gyroscope.

I could be wrong, but I believe that there is a real relationship between authentic holiness and real balance in one's life. When people strive for an abstract holiness with no basis in reality, well... they can get just plain weird. And when people struggle for balance without a sense of God and others, well...they can just get terribly self-centered.

The art is striving for a balanced life in Christ. Jesus said: "I came that you might have life and have it to the full." That did not mean just work, or just play, or just prayer, or just...whatever. No, I believe that as we meditate on the Gospels we observe Jesus balancing ministry, prayer, rest, and relationships. And that is a great goal and discipline for us as well, especially at Lent.

Now please do not get the idea that I am the "prince of the balanced life". Anyone who knows me can testify that I most certainly am not. But, I keep at it. Some days, I am reasonably good. Other days...I am a wreck! But I keep up my "balancing act" by the grace of Christ's grace. And hopefully I will be a little less crazy this week than I was last week.

So I submit to you and me this Lent to just begin to get some kind of actual balance in our daily lives among the elements of rest, nutrition, exercise, prayer, and recreation. That will be penance enough.

What I am planning to do this forty day of Lent is: 7-8 hours of sleep, 3 healthy meals, 30-45 minutes of walking, 30 minutes of private prayer/spiritual reading, and some real conversation with friends/family each day.  I may not be consistent, but as 12-Step wisdom goes: It is progress, not perfection. I'll let you know how it goes.