Let’s start this week (over?) right!

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the start of what Christians call “Holy Week,” or the week ahead leading up to Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection on Easter Sunday. I feel bummed that already I didn’t start off very well…I worked yesterday (yes, after my whole commitment to try NOT to work on Sundays!) to follow up with the writers who took the workshop I gave at the Maryland Writers Association Conference on Saturday. (I looked forward and saw my busy week ahead…which does include helping others, I reasoned…and I saw no other time to do this task. Ah…the elusive balance we seek in our lives.) But then I remembered Jesus healing someone on the Sabbath so I decided to stop beating myself up, let it go and move forward so I could continue to be of service to others.

And then this morning a resentment cropped up which stole my serenity, and I thought, how can Lent be almost over, here we are in Holy Week already, and I am NOT feeling very holy! Give me a shout out or reply if you can relate! So the question is, how to turn things around? Lucky for me I got to go to a yoga class during my lunch today and brought to mind an intention to resurrect my peace and joy when I went back to my work day. A change of perspective was all that was really needed! If you are feeling stuck or down today and bummed your Holy Week isn’t starting out that great, and you don’t have the luxury of going to yoga or even getting in a quiet place for a few minutes, try closing your eyes, taking a deep breath and saying a quick prayer for peace and joy to enter your heart…or try to bring to mind something to be grateful for. I’ve heard it said it’s tough to be unhappy when you’re feeling grateful.

All negative feelings…doubt, anxiety, worry, resentment…usually stem from fear. So if I catch myself feeling any of these this week, I’m going to remind myself of the words in today’s Mass reading out of Psalms…”The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? When evildoers come at me…My foes and my enemies themselves stumble and fall….Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust.  I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.” (Ps. 27:1-14)

I wish you all a peaceful, blessed Holy Week and a Joyous Happy Easter!