Getting Charged up this Lent!

Did you read the latest technology news? They claim that soon you will be able to charge your iPod by simply wearing nano-fiber clothing. There is research suggesting that nano micro-fiber fabric can actually create electricity. Reporter James Morgan of The Herald writes, "You've heard of power-dressing. Now here comes the real thing - clothes that generate electricity as you walk." "The two fibers scrub together just like two bottle brushes with their bristles touching, converting the mechanical motion into electrical energy", explained Wang the one who is conducting this research.

Imagine, just two fibers rubbing together that creates energy! This month, as we begin Great and Holy Lent the Church asks us to join together and get "charged up" using components of prayer and fasting to allow God to transform our lives. St. John Chrysostom said: "Prayer and fasting are like two wings that carry a person to the heights of God. Lent is a time that allows us the opportunity to tap in to God's energy to soften our hearts and to open its wings towards the love of God.

Let us get energized this Lent by focusing on our daily prayer life, opening our hearts and allowing room for God to change the way we live. Mother Theresa said that, "prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of receiving God's gift of Himself." Prayer redirects our thoughts and actions towards God's Kindgom.

Prayer is the most powerful form of energy one can generate and its influences on the human mind and body is expressed when we become peacemakers, when we honor our God, when we treat each person with respect, when we humbly realize that God's energies is what truly sustains us and the world!

Prayer is the golden link connecting us, the wanderer and stranger upon the earth, with the spiritual world of which he is a member, and above all, with God who is the source of life.

Listen to what St. John of Kronstadt says about prayer. "The person who prays must hunger after those blessings-- above all, the spiritual ones: the forgiveness of sins, the hollowing, the strengthening in virtue--for which he prays; otherwise it will be a useless waste of words."

He also says, "How can we teach ourselves to speak the truth from our heart during prayer? We must bring every word of the prayer down to our heart, lay it to our heart, feel its truth in our heart, be convinced of our need of that for which we ask."

When we feel the truth in our heart we will be assured that God came to cast fire on the earth, the fire that ignites souls and transfigures people. We will be convinced that He wants to ignite this energy of our heart to be on fire with His love as we humbly seek His will.

You see, it is not enough to simply glance at the bible once in a while or recitie beautiful prayers of our great spiritual fathers with a cold heart, a dull and disconnected mind. We must open up a place for God and allow our Lord to fill the core of our being.

We are to prepare our vessel to receive the direction and light of the Holy Spirit. We fast so we can grow closer to God and resist the many temptations that distract us from leading a spiritual life. What are the distractions in your life? They can be many simple things around us such as our computer, our T.V., the food we eat, or simply engaging in daily criticism of others. We must redirect our eyes to see the beautiful, the lovely and the excellent.

We must protect what goes into our stomachs striving to live in balance and harmony with our body. We must fast from useless words that come out of our mouths. Gossip, foul jokes, non-loving, critical and judgmental conversations must stop. And we must enter into conversations that support and encourage our walk in Christ. We are to lift our hearts in prayer seeking God's truth in our life. It is through prayer that we begin the journey. And it is in the relationship with Christ that we are given hope and courage.

Getting charged in lent doesn't mean we will create energy to power our iPods or generate electricity as we walk. Being charged in lent means we will tune into the power of Jesus who will guide us towards a transfigured life as we become more peaceful, patient and compassionate people. We must invite the grace of the Holy Spirit to ignite our hearts in prayer!

St. Herman of Alaska said, "From this day, from this hour, from this minute, let us love God above all and strive to fulfill His Holy Will." From this day, from this hour, from this minute let us commit to a life of prayer and fasting during the next 40 days as we seek to truly experience the joy of Christ's Resurrection. We too, will proclaim "Christ Has Risen!" not only for the life of the world, but in OUR hearts transforming us from death to life.