Today friends of mine everywhere will “give up something for Lent”.
A friend asked me yesterday whether that was a good thing, is it a right practice to participate in Lent. I told her that there was nothing anti-scriptural about Lent or its observance, and that giving up something for this 40-day season was a good thing IF PRACTICED WITH THE RIGHT PURPOSE.
Doing anything just to do it is ludicrous. Shining bells that no one ever rings; sweating to shovel the snow from a walk where no one goes; planning and setting up games no one will ever play; buying clothes or shoes you will never wear; turning on the TV when no one is watching it.
If you don’t know the reason why you do something, don’t waste your time. Either figure out the reason or don’t do it.
Why do you “give up something for Lent”? Why do you rob yourself of the flavor or the pleasure? Why do you go through the constant reminder and the constant frustration of “doing without”? Honestly, if it’s just because I’m SUPPOSED TO do it, then stop wasting your time and giving yourself the headache.
On the other hand, if you are truly using it to remind you of the sacrifice that Christ made on your behalf, to reemphasize in your life the willingness He had to face the pain, to die that death, to carry that sin—if you are making a small sacrifice to focus your heart and your mind on His cross, and His path to Calvary, and His love and grace shown through those nails and those thorns and through that beating and that cursing, and that shunning, and that ridicule, then maybe you are on the right track.
Every time you say, “I can’t have that,” then add to it this phrase: “Oh well. He gave up SO much for me it is my honor to give up something for Him.” May your temporary and minute struggle and frustration focus your heart and your mind on the Cross that lies 40 days ahead, and the empty tomb that paved that way to eternity.
Onward, friends. Face to the cross, our back to the world.
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