Use the gift of Lent to turn back to God

In some areas of our Archdiocese the joyful mayhem of the Carnival Season has begun. These festivities are found in much of southern Alabama. Even in communities where there are no carnival processions through the streets, it is still common to encounter the green, purple and gold ubiquitous this time of year.
This pre-Lenten time of parties and parades originated with the purpose of having a lighthearted time before the serious days of Lent. The word “carnival” itself reminds us of its purpose. The word comes from two Latin words, carne (meat) and valle (goodbye). Carnival is a time to say goodbye to meat before the Lenten days of abstinence.
I remember one time speaking with a Catholic who lives elsewhere in the country and he remarked that he had forgotten that Lent had begun. He said that Lent sort of “snuck up” on him and he had even forgotten it was Ash Wednesday. Things are different here. Our celebration of Mardi Gras makes it far more challenging to forget that Lent is about to start. Ash Wednesday has a vividly different feel than Mardi Gras. 
At the same time, the merriments of Carnival can distract us from planning for Lent. In these last two weeks before the start of Lent each of us is challenged to think about how we will choose to observe Lent and not wait until we are standing in line for ashes. 
When we think of observing Lent, the first thing which may come to mind is that we will give up something we enjoy. Often this penance may be motivated as much by a desire to live healthier than by a desire to grow closer to God. However, any penance can be good because, if we can discipline ourselves in one area of our life, we may discover that we can discipline ourselves in other, more important, areas of life. Thus, a Lenten sacrifice of a little pleasure may inspire us to even greater self-control. 
Lent is a gift to us and the best way we can use it is to allow God to draw us closer to Him. Lent can be a road back to God. Each one of us has drifted away from God in some ways, some more dramatic than others. 
We may have allowed broken dreams to turn us bitterly against God. We may have allowed a grudge to make its home in our heart poisoning us and pushing the love of God out of us. We may have allowed a failed relationship to turn us inward and away from God. We may have allowed our selfishness to make us cold toward the needs of neighbor. We may have allowed a sorrow to so overwhelm us that we have become distant from the only source of healing there is, God’s grace. We may have allowed our sins, as great as they may be, to hold us back from the love which can forgive the worst we can do.
God stands ready to give us a new beginning, new life, new purpose and new direction. The Lord’s arms are open wide ready to embrace us. Lent leads us to the Last Supper, to the Cross and to the empty tomb. What more could God have done to show us His mercy and His desire for us to return to Him? God thirsts for our return more than we can imagine. If we sincerely want God, if we are ready to change, if we refuse to value anything in this life more than God, then this Lent may be abundantly grace-filled for us.
In whatever wholesome way we may choose to enjoy the Carnival Season, let each of us pray that we will use the gift of Lent to turn back to God. God does not mock prayer. If we ask for guidance, it will be given to us by God who stands ready to welcome us back to Him.