Family Faith by Selina Venier
DETOXES don’t generally last 40 days.
My naturopath suggests two weeks is a good length of time to help the body rid itself of toxins and “about what most people can manage”.
She described toxins as “anything that may harm body tissue”.
Refined sugar, processed foods, coffee, alcohol and all the other predictable “no-nos” were on the list of what to avoid for a good physical detoxification.
As difficult as it can be to stick to, it’s not brain surgery and requires commitment and forethought. What comes from the earth is best – fruits and vegetables particularly – and in their purest form.
Imagine the state of health in the modern world if detox, where possible, was the springboard into permanent change and healthy consumption for longevity and vitality!
It would be a changed world indeed.
The spiritual detox that is Lent stretches our spirit, mind and body to be more, do more and consume less like a health-focused detoxification. It allows the chance, at least once a year, to be purified and rid of “spiritual toxins”.
What might those be? I suggest they are “anything that may harm the soul and our quest for heaven”.
The list of spiritual toxins is potentially a long one. They can all be summarised by three little letters with a massive impact for harm and toxicity – sin.
Imagine the state of the Church if true purification in Lent was the springboard into permanent change away from sinfulness and towards the quest for heavenly riches.
It would be a changed Church indeed.
But we all fall from grace. We are all in need of the cleansing that is Lent.
As such we are all in need of the sacraments and the return to God they promise.
Speaking of which, there’s often debate whether sin – the word and its reality – should even be brought to the minds of children.
Seeing this is a family column I’ll wager in.
As a mother of a neurotypical child and an older, autistic child, both labels I detest but I’ll use them anyway, I don’t see any reason to not offer children every possibility of understanding what sin is, from where it originated and by whom we can be cleansed.
In essence I don’t see any reason to not offer children the truth.
Both daughters can and have coped with it and appreciate the Sacrament of Penance more profoundly because of it.
When my older daughter is reluctant to admit her sins, as sometimes is the case because she’s regretful or embarrassed, but does so, there’s a relief I don’t see in her at other times.
There’s a cleansing I don’t see in her at other times and that is God-given.
Furthermore, when the girls come to Mass and join in the Creed, the Lamb of God or hear umpteen other prayers with the word “sin”, there’s understanding.
The Lamb of God doesn’t say “Lamb of God, you take away the ‘wrong choices’ of the world, have mercy on us …”
What do children who don’t know what sin is understand in those moments of the Mass?
A “wrong choice” is not swimming between the flags at the beach.
We tell children of the potential harm of crossing the road without looking this way, that and back again.
We give children lessons in “stranger danger”, bullying and other potentially harmful outcomes. Why baulk about the word “sin” and its reality?
If it’s because the Commandments, from which understanding about sin should emanate, hold concepts beyond a child’s readiness, a gently, gently approach might be helpful.
Build understanding about sin with age-appropriate explanation.
As a parent, if “adultery” isn’t a word you’d like to explain to your eight-year-old, for example, use the word “loyalty” and broach the broader topic at a later time.
Sin, somewhat like unhealthy lifestyle choices, is part of life, part of our human condition.
Understanding its origins and potential harm allows children to grow into people who, with the grace of God, admit wrong and learn from it.
With renewed commitment and forethought I’m aiming for less toxicity of all kinds this Lent and praying for change beyond 40 days.
[divider]
