Take it up for Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday, Lent has begun. It seems to have ushered in better weather. Maybe there's no connection, but I’m grateful nonetheless.
The question always arises: what are you giving up? As I say every year, Lenten fasting can be a worthy exercise. It can be a helpful tool. I hope you've given it some thought. However in addition to "giving it up for Lent'" how about "taking it up for Lent?" I want to challenge you to think about taking on a new habit. In addition to giving up chocolate, passing up the desert, or giving up lunch (do people really do that!), how about taking up an extra 30 minutes of prayer? Set aside extra time for reading and reflection. Make a point to come to every Lenten service. Turn off the TV and give yourself a break from the nonsense.
Cecelia and I hosted her nephew Calvin (23) and niece Elyse (17) this weekend. At Sunday lunch they initiated a discussion about what they were giving up for Lent. The discussion was serious, but also light-hearted: Meals after 8:30 p.m. (having no mid-night pizza for 40 days!?), no deserts (this seemed to edge toward the fanatical), giving up an I-Pod (surely God wouldn’t want us to give up one of the greatest gifts to humanity!). Then at some point in our conversation, Calvin suggested that he was going to also take something up for Lent. At this point the conversation changed. I think there was a realization that now we were embarking on something quite serious. A renewed commitment to prayer or Bible study is nothing to joke about. It’s not in the same category as giving up Hip Hop for 40 days.
I’ve heard it said that you only have to do something 21 times before it becomes a habit. If that’s the case then the 40 days of Lent should allow for a habit to become a lifestyle. All the more the reason to take up something important. It could change your life.
The question always arises: what are you giving up? As I say every year, Lenten fasting can be a worthy exercise. It can be a helpful tool. I hope you've given it some thought. However in addition to "giving it up for Lent'" how about "taking it up for Lent?" I want to challenge you to think about taking on a new habit. In addition to giving up chocolate, passing up the desert, or giving up lunch (do people really do that!), how about taking up an extra 30 minutes of prayer? Set aside extra time for reading and reflection. Make a point to come to every Lenten service. Turn off the TV and give yourself a break from the nonsense.
Cecelia and I hosted her nephew Calvin (23) and niece Elyse (17) this weekend. At Sunday lunch they initiated a discussion about what they were giving up for Lent. The discussion was serious, but also light-hearted: Meals after 8:30 p.m. (having no mid-night pizza for 40 days!?), no deserts (this seemed to edge toward the fanatical), giving up an I-Pod (surely God wouldn’t want us to give up one of the greatest gifts to humanity!). Then at some point in our conversation, Calvin suggested that he was going to also take something up for Lent. At this point the conversation changed. I think there was a realization that now we were embarking on something quite serious. A renewed commitment to prayer or Bible study is nothing to joke about. It’s not in the same category as giving up Hip Hop for 40 days.
I’ve heard it said that you only have to do something 21 times before it becomes a habit. If that’s the case then the 40 days of Lent should allow for a habit to become a lifestyle. All the more the reason to take up something important. It could change your life.
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