Baby Steps

Starting again! For me, Lent, and life in general, is always about starting over. Whether it's my running or my prayer life; my great intentions to keep my office tidy or my promise to give up something for a penance, there seems to be a pattern of messing up.


While I was running this morning, I made up my mind to do something different this time. Instead of aiming to run for an hour every day, I will take smaller steps, every other day and run for only 30 minutes, at least for now. Instead of giving up too many big things all at once, I will start bit by bit. Denying oneself an obvious pleasure whether its that glass of wine or dessert on a one time basis, is more likely to be possible. Giving it all up for the whole of Lent is fraught with danger, at least for me.


So it's baby steps for me, making wise choices one at a time. While my inclination is to go for the big prize all at once, my fallen nature has other ideas. It's been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions - I can see how that could be. I am going to take steps, albeit little ones, to avoid that destination!


Stewardship is about recognizing all the good things we're given. Perhaps my baby steps will make my journey to living gratitude and giving back more realistic and attainable.