Roe v Wade overturned: But the fight is not over
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I admit there have been years that my Lent plans and goals just did not seem to get out of the gate, much less lead the race. If we have been Catholic for any length of time then the majority of us can say we have experienced a Lenten season (or two) that either started or ended poorly (or both). We must remember that Lent is a season, not a day. It is not easy because if it was easy then everyone would want to do it. The Christian life is not easy. What do you do if you have had a poor start to Lent. Here are 3 things to consider:
1.) Forgive yourself: The “Catholic guilt” will often rise up and condemn us for our failures in the faith. Our guilt’s voice tells us we are a failure and God does not accept us because we failed. Our guilt tells us we will never succeed and to just give up trying to have faith. Do not let that voice convince you of any of that because the voice of guilt is the voice of Satan. St. Paul understood the struggle of failure in faith. “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.” (Philippians 3:13-14) St. Paul acknowledges he had failed in areas and sinned. He also reminds us to forgive ourselves and put the past behind us. You cannot change how you started this Lent. You can, however, change how it ends.
2.) Pray: That’s one of those “duh” moments. Right? You’re probably thinking “well of course we have to pray.” It’s not that obvious when we feel that we have failed because when we fail then it becomes harder to go to God in prayer. We often feel that we are not worth approaching God in prayer. Perhaps we start to think that prayer is not worth it because we have already failed. Prayer is always worth it. God is always waiting on you.
3.) Start again: Just because you have not started strong does not determine how you end. I love to watch track and field races or horse races. There is something exhilarating about seeing a horse or a runner come from the back of the pack and rush past the leader just in time to cross the finish line. I find myself cheering for a runner or a horse I know nothing about and just because they are coming from behind and I want to see them win because of the comeback. We are called to come from the back of the pack and cross the finish line strong.
You may feel like Lent is over for you since you have already failed. It is not. Lent has just started. There are plenty more weeks and days for you to come back strong. Don’t give up on yourself. God has not given up on you. I’ll see you at the finish line.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
