Day 8: Not Feeling Lent Yet?

So where are we?  After one week of Lent, are we different?  Have we grown closer to Christ?  Have we "turned away from sin and been faithful to the gospel" as we heard on Ash Wednesday?  If you haven't...don't worry.  Be patient with yourself.  God definitely is.  Lent is a long journey, and there is plenty of time to get on track.  Just make sure you have your eyes firmly fixed on the Crucified Christ. The Collect or Opening Prayer of the Mass today starts with the line: "Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people..."  It ends with a petition for us to be renewed in mind.  May we fervently ask the Lord for this renewal of mind so that we can fix our eyes on him and be steadfast in our journey through the desert.