Ash Wednesday Approaches

 I get far too much pleasure out of watching a group of people known for bullying other start to implode and engage in a kind of civil war.  I have watched it happen over and over again.  People intent on being right start to be ignored by the mainstream and have no one to beat up anymore.  They then turn on each other and start a kind of purging.  They corral their own set of flying monkeys and then release them upon each other.  Inboxes fill, online screeching gets louder and louder and then one group implodes.  They begin to lose their ability to shock or hold anyone's attention.  Gradually they fade away.  Sometimes they are forced into exile because they go too far with their ugliness - think Alex Jones - but most of the time they simply fade into obscurity.

As we approach the season of Lent for 2026, I wonder how many of the leaders of these factions are contemplating what to offer to the Father for 40 days?

I have two penances I have decided to practice.  The first is that I am going to offer my need to complain about people hurting me.  No more complaining.  Let them be as mean and as petty as they want - I will only complain to God.  

The second was imposed by our Prioress - I will be praying the Dominican Rosary every day for Lent.  I pray the Rosary every day as it is but I pray the one used by the common lay people.  The Domican Rosary is shorter, really, so I can do both.  Besides, I use the Hallows app for the first one and I don't want to give up praying every day with Mark Wahlberg.

I have also decided to pray for the leaders of these factions.  I don't belong to either one but they sure seem to be causing each other a lot of pain.  It also seems to be intentional, although I suspect one of the people involved is having a very public nervous breakdown a la Kanye West.  The Flying Monkeys need to be lured back to their roosts.  The fighting should stop.

That will be my prayer this Lent.  I will pray that this need some people have to act like 8th grade Mean Girls stop.  That they become open to the Grace of a Loving God.  That they just stop with the behavior and aim solidly for Spiritual Progress.

Wouldn't that be AWESOME?