St. Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) is one of three saints of the Orthodox Church to have been given the title of "theologian" (the others are St. John the Apostle and St. Gregory Nazianzen). Born in Galatia and educated at Constantinople, he became abbot of the monastery of St. Mamas. He believed that humans can experience the Spirit of God directly, and his writings embody the deepest mystical traditions of the Orthodox Faith. His words will no doubt give us direction and inspiration as we approach Holy and Great Lent: "Our holy fathers have renounced all other spiritual work and concentrated wholly on this one doing, that is, on guarding the heart, convinced that, through this practice, they would easily attain every other virtue, whereas without it not a single virtue can be firmly established."

Making it real. What does it mean to put other things—even worthy things—behind and focus on "guarding the heart"? Life is full of distractions, and even the meaningful, good things can drain our energy, frustrate us at times and leave us feeling helpless. This Lent, how can your family focus on guarding your collective heart—how can you make sure your loved ones are being spiritually fed, have time to pray and time to come together for meals and "down-time" throughout the week? This Lent, work on simplifying and organizing your household routine. Make a list of priorities—with "guarding the heart" of the family at the top! Trim the fat, see if you can be more efficient with the necessities, and you’ll like what you see!