The Mom Weekly Volume 83: March 11, 2025
You can read this, or any other previous Mom Weeklies, by going to the website here.
Notes:
Well, that was a “fun” start to Lent! She said ironically (or Byronically, but only the English majors reading will laugh at that).
I’m not sure how your Lent started, but mine was funny. I really didn’t have too much trouble with eating meatless and fasting. But I decided on something to “do” during Lent, other than my regular things.
I thought, how about this?: refrain from purchasing anything on Wednesdays and Fridays. That includes, for instance, coffee at Dunkin, shopping at the grocery store, and online shopping.
I probably go to the grocery store too much (but not as much as other people I know, whose initials are Dad, wink). Also, I’m too used to my little treats, that if I made a point not to shop on those days, I could probably save quite a bit of time, and also money to give to the poor, and plan ahead to get things (groceries, especially) on days other than Wednesdays and Fridays.
I was doing great all of Ash Wednesday, and thought, okay, this is going to be a good Lenten thing. I didn’t go to Dunkin. I thought about ordering some toiletries online during the day, but reminded myself, no, that can happen tomorrow.
And then right before heading upstairs for bed, I checked email, and there was a notice from an online shop letting me know that an item had come back into stock in my size, and I could order it if I wanted.
Without even thinking, I did order it! I knew I wanted the item, and it was a good wardrobe staple. Ha.
“Just” as I was getting into bed, I realized, oh, honey, you just bought something on ASH WEDNESDAY. And I had to laugh at myself.
Anyway, I will try to get in the habit of (mostly) no-spend Wednesdays and Fridays through Lent. When I fail, I will do better the next time.
Remember how much I love you,
Mom
A Rich Mullins Lent
Last year, my book group was reading My God and My All, a biography of sorts about St. Francis of Assisi, written by 20th century British author Elizabeth Goudge. And I really struggled with it. I do love St. Francis of Assisi—hey, we named our firstborn after St. Francis, after all! And remember how much we all loved Assisi.
But something about the way Goudge wrote made his love of poverty seem unappealing in the worst way. St. Francis himself was almost repellent. I struggled so much, and I am not ashamed to say that I’m glad some other women in my book group felt the same way.
It made me think of Rich Mullins, to be honest. Let me explain.
Around the same time, an online friend from Colorado shared on social media an unintentionally goofy video from the CMA Country Christmas of Amy Grant & Trisha Yearwood performing Rich Mullins’ song “Sing Your Praise to the Lord” (oh, the incongruous dancers!).
She mused about what Rich Mullins, who died in a car accident in 1997, would say about it if he could see it. She joked that he would be keeping the people in heaven in stitches with a running commentary about it.
As you know, I have been a huge Rich Mullins fan since the 1980s, even naming my blog after one of his songs! (The song is “Let Mercy Lead.”)
Mullins, who was days away from converting to Catholicism when he died, lived in voluntary poverty (even though his music made lots of money), and admired St. Francis greatly. There’s a documentary about him I love that’s on Amazon Prime (Rich Mullins: A Ragamuffin Legacy).
My friend shared this older documentary called “Homeless Man: The Restless Heart of Rich Mullins”. I watched it, and I teared up often watching it and seeing his deep faith and words.
It struck me how Mullins is a kind of 20th century St. Francis. And I find his life, and his words about radical poverty and closeness with Christ, more attractive than Elizabeth Goudge’s portrayal of St. Francis in My God and My All. I am pondering why that is!
Since then, I’ve been listening to Rich Mullins music off and on, and I find some of his songs very fruitful for Lenten reflection. So, for a few weeks during Lent, I hope to post a reflection based on one of his songs. We will see how it goes!
Interesting/Notable:
Marriage Article of the Week: For Luck in Love, Couples Are Breaking Plates (On Purpose) (NY Times Gift link)
I shared this article here in 2023(!), and I’m not necessarily arguing for this as a night-before-a-wedding tradition! Though it is kind of cool. It is worthwhile sharing as a marriage article of the week. This quote in particular:
“We swept up the pieces that spilled out of the box together, which was my favorite part. It’s a reminder that while building a life together, things break, but none strong enough to break the bond of marriage.”
An Action Item: Listen to Some Rich Mullins
I find listening to Rich Mullins music to be edifying and meditative. So I made “A Rich Mullins Lent” Spotify playlist. Consider playing some of the songs if you want during Lent. I played this while I finished writing and posting this weekly!
But I fully understand that not everyone has the same music taste, so if Rich Mullins music isn’t your thing (after giving it a good listen!), then please make your own playlist of good songs to listen to during Lent. It’s pretty easy!
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