ONE'S SELF Lent for most people is a time to focus on who one is, where one is going, how one is to get there, why one is here on earth, where one stands with their faith and a host of other important questions relating to one's personal life in general. Over all these questions and an integral part of them is an understanding where God and Christ fit into the picture and just what one's relation should be with them. All this can be summed up in one word, namely, that Lent is really a sort of retreat, a time to get one's life together, to refocus one's whole outlook and to in general do a bit of personal spring cleaning. For many, there is a large focus on doing some sort of penance as a sign of one's genuine desire to grow in their faith and in their relationship with God and Christ. Most people have a very genuine desire to do the right thing and be at peace with the Lord.
Most people are basically good.
Yet everyone has to admit to himself or herself that there are those times when one fails, most often in little things, but sometimes in rather serious matters. Repentance then becomes an important ingredient of Lent and with the spirit of the season and the grace of God, it can become a profoundly moving experience, sometimes so powerful that one will turn 180 degrees with a real change of life. All through this runs a strong instinct that one wants to remain totally themselves and herein lies a very human problem. For each single person is somewhat defined by the way they act and quite often even wrong ways of acting, usually small little things, become a person's signature. No one wants to be forced into a mold and surprisingly, neither does God want to force anyone into a mold.