Lent

What is it? 

According to Wikipedia it is:

Lent (Latin: Quadragesima) is a solemn observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations, lasting for a period of approximately six weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. In the general Latin-rite and most Western denominations Lent is taken to run from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) morning or to Easter Eve.


The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events of the the Bible when Jesus is crucified on Good Friday, which then culminates in the celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence.

For me personally: 
I am not Catholic.  I am just a plain old Christ follower.  So why do lent?  Through the years it has not been a hard core discipline that I have done regularly.  Much like advent it seems to be one of those things I either plan, prepare, pray about, and do, or I just skip it.  Not sure what that says.

This year I thought about it.  Was aware that it was about time for Ash Wednesday, and thought about my life and those idols or things that I turn to instead of turning to God.  It is a time to set something apart for God in hope and preparation for what is to come.  The Lenten season lasts 40 days, which is a number often seen in the Bible as a time of testing, trying, and preparing. 

For me one of those things that takes the place of God, and becomes like an idol is a nice cold, bubbly, can, glass, or bottle of soda. 

On those afternoons when I'm tired, when I'm stressed, when I'm happy, or when I feel like a special treat my soda is always there to make it better.  The problem is that God is too, and he is the real answer to the problem.  When the day is long and kid issues pile up I need to spend time reading God's Word, praying, or doing a relaxing activity not just cracking open a soda.  On days when I'm tired I need to listen to my body and take a nap.  During happy days or special times I can find other ways to reward myself like an nice walk (which I need), an hour in the greenhouse, an hour reading, or getting things done so I can go to bed early.

For me lent is about letting go of something that is taking up too much of my life, and instead putting God or activities that focus on God into that space. 

Sunday's are the worst for giving up soda for me.  Since I was in junior high after church on Sundays I've had a nice cold soda.  It was a family tradition, and except for one other time when I gave up soda successfully for all of lent I have had one.  I won't lie there are times that I have to "go to the store for something."  I can usually think of something like milk or lettuce, but really the purpose is a soda.  I'm human.  If I were in the desert, and thought that the golden calf would give me Diet Dr. Pepper.  I may have been willing to donate my gold for it. 

So I will stay strong, drink, water, and pray when those feelings of tiredness and stress start to come up in my soul.  I will drink from the living water, and seek to serve Him. 

Sometimes you need to take a break from something or give up something not at a specific "holy" time. 

Have you ever given something up?  Are you giving something up for lent?  It's not too late!