Sometimes I have a strange burst of inspiration and motivation to do what I’ve always wanted to do, but never have done. This feeling hit me this past Sunday, when I started again to reflect on my Lenten promise to take care of myself for all the right reasons (rather than for vanity purposes). As I reflected, I thought about the barely-used gym membership I have. My main excuse this year for not going to the gym has been my unpredictable work schedule, where random late nights have become apart of my life.
Well, if I couldn’t predict my evenings, I know that I can usually know beforehand what the early part of my day will look like. So I took the plunge, and signed up for a 6:45AM yoga class at my gym. I woke up early, got to the gym, pumped up and ready, only to realize that I signed up at another gym accidentally. WHOOPS. Since I had been planning on a yoga class, I didn’t even bring running shoes to use any other equipment.
So, I though “WHAT NOW? It’s 6:30AM and I’m in midtown, and I don’t plan to be in my office until 8:30AM at the earliest.” With a semi-tired mind and body, I decided to go to the ever-elusive morning mass. That service that I always associated with my retired grandmother, who goes every morning without fail; the one that I might’ve been dragged to a handful of times when my grandparents took care of me in the summertime; the one that I never thought I’d ever be awake for on my own volition (especially on a day that wasn’t labeled an “obligation”).
I visited The Church of the Holy Innocents near Penn Station, and showed up right on time for their early morning mass at 7:30AM. Instantly, I felt at peace in this place. The smell of incense mixed in with the quiet sense of the morning felt invigorating in its own way. There might have been only about 15 people in the church this morning, but in my heart, I felt a sort of strong unity in this quiet space. This church, located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, was a space that encouraged all inside to ignore those New York worker instincts, and to just sit still and take part in scripture and prayerful practice. It was the exact sense of peace I needed in a season of stress and busy-ness.
I didn’t get my morning work out, but I did get invigoration. The gifts of Lent just come in unexpected ways. So tomorrow, I will try to go to the gym early again, but now I also plan to try to go to daily mass at least once a week during the Lenten season.