Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the day our calendar calls Ash Wednesday. It begins the season called Lent and will end on Easter Sunday.
Confession: I never heard of either of these growing up. That’s right. I grew up in a church tradition where Ashes and Lent were not mentioned. In fact, I can remember sitting in a high school class one day and one of my teachers had this black spot between his eyes on his forehead. I almost said something to him about having dirt on his forehead. Even though I grew up in a largely Catholic/Orthodox-dominated area, I had no clue.
Even as a pastor I really had no clue because it was not part of our church life. As time went on I heard about it, but there was still no understanding or (dare I say it?) caring about it. It still wasn’t even on the back burner. That should tell you how important it was to me or how it crossed my mind (it didn’t).
Then one day after we moved here, I was talking to some folks about sacrifice. It was around the time of Lent so the tie was made. So was the challenge. We challenged each other…sort of almost as a game…to give up something for 40 days. In fact, I even issued a challenge to the church. Some gave up warm beer (not too sure about cold). Some gave up smoking. I gave up caffeine…mainly Diet Dr Pepper.
This year I have issued myself a challenge…partly for health/weight reasons and partly because I want to see if I can do it. I have committed to giving up ALL pop for the 40 days. I even went a step further and have given up chips and any other salty snacks of no nutritional value. (Pistachios are allowed). We shall see.
What about you? Have you decided to give up something? As a side: I thought about giving up chocolate but I tell people I can’t sacrifice that much. 🙂 If you care to read, here is an article on the Top 20 things people say we ought to give up for Lent.
I will gladly give up social media. Oh yeah…I’m not on it. 🙂
Like you, I grew up in a church tradition where these things were never mentioned. I’ve heard a little about them through the years and have a bit better understanding but still don’t really ‘get it’.
Maybe it’s a tradition I should explore a little further.
I explored it out of curiosity. I’m still not an observer of it. I just issued myself this challenge for health/weight reasons and it coincided well.
Sounds like a Christian New Years resolution. How silly.
it can be seen as that. It just so happens my need for the health/weight thing coincided with the 40 days so I challenged myself. To me, it is an innocent challenge with absolutely no eternal value unless I choose to make it that.
Hi Bill! Lent is a big part of my Christian tradition, and I do not see it as ‘Christian New Years Resolution’ at all, but I guess others could see it like that.
It’s all about being more intentional, whatever will help you do that. If you give up something, do it in the Spirit of Christ, as He gave up so much for us. If you want to take care of your body, do it with joy, knowing that it is a huge gift from the Creator.
I hope to be more aware of God in this moment. Being more present to the present. I was just thinking today how blessed I am to have this Lent tradition to gently nudge me back on track. It really is a wonderful gift.
Blessings!
Ceil
I see your point Ceil. Being from that tradition you have a better grasp of its meaning. I, too, hope to be more aware of God during this time and finding food or no food is not an issue.
Good bye chocolate and ice cream. That was what I finally decided on.
Two of my favorites! You are one brave woman Linda!
Believe it or not, I gave up playing computer solitaire for Lent – so addictive for me! I think of this season, too, as a time to take on an additional spiritual practice and spend more of my time in silent communion with God.
Oh, and just so you can give yourself a break here and there, Bill, each Sunday in Lent is a “Mini-Easter.” You can have that can of pop and some chips then!
Blessings!
Everyone is different Martha. Thanks for the “Mini-Easter” mention. Can’t say I’ve ever heard of that one! 🙂
I’m with you, Bill. I didn’t know what it was until I was an adult too. I like the heart behind sacrifice, but not in a legalistic way, which is a completely different matter.
I’m gonna give up being a nice guy for forty days… Kidding… I’d have to be one to be able to stop being one! Puhr-uhm-pum-pum.
You hit on something I think plagues many: the legalism. it definitely smacks of “do this/don’t do this.” You would have to work hard-very hard my friend- to stop being a nice guy.
I love the on purpose idea of lent. Seems it should be something we do any time as things come into our life that are bad for us. It’s the on purpose that would draw me since my life verse is
I Cor. 2:2, I am determined to know nothing other then Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Actually, seems so little to give up a week, a day in light of what He gave up for us. Those in sports give up great amount of things and time to be good at their game Also, people who sing, play instruments, write books, blogs, magazines, parent children, what ever profession one has chosen takes a lot of giving up to do it well. So to give up a little time, no matter what one does it for should not be called silly. I have never attended a church that practice lent but believe God in heaven loves it when we turn our eye toward Him instead of ourselves.
I agree with you Betty about God loving when we turn our eye toward Him instead of ourselves. That should be the purpose of observing Lent or any other day.