In Praise of Ordinary Time

"According to the Catholic liturgical calendar," she explained, "all the days of the year that are not Lent, Easter, Advent, or Christmas are called Ordinary Time. So here we are: Easter is over and Christmas is still a long way off. I guess you could say that this is the time in which we're meant to feel that we have all the time in the world."

... Ordinary Time is all those days you do not remember when you look back on your life. Unless, of course, the Virgin Mary came to visit in the middle of it and everything was changed: before and after; then and now; past, present, and future.

Our Lady of the Lost and Foundby Diane Schoemperlen

Are we all snuggling up to our Ordinary Time? That makes it really more special than ordinary, doesn't it?

I like Louise's remark that in other places round the world they are busy anticipating carnival, the celebration of good things before turning to austerity. Time enough for Lent when Lent is upon us (a little prep perhaps the week before is not a bad thing but three weeks ahead?) I'll go for enjoying what I have now. Just in case the Virgin Mary comes to visit and I might miss it by looking ahead too far.

UPDATE:
Yowsa! Barb nails it in the comments ... now why didn't I think of this? That Lent is, in itself, a time of preparation.

I guess the question is, how do we prepare for a Time of Preparation?

Why prepare? Why not just jump in, quiet down and let God show us where He wants us to go during this Lent? What if you come up with some Really Great Spiritual Practice on, say, the Second Sunday of Lent? Do you say it's too late to employ it now, because Lent is underway? Or do you embrace the fact that the Holy Spirit just turned on a lightbulb in your soul?