More Lenten thoughts.


"What are you giving up for Lent ?"
I remember the first time I was asked that, and I was sort-of ... flabbergasted. What do you mean ? We don't hold Lent in this country or this church. You don't have to give up anything. Why should you! I mean, that was back in the old days, where people thought you were more righteous if you didn't eat or didn't have sex or ....
But we are in enlightened times now. We don't have to do that old nonsense.

But then the idea began to grow on me.
Over the years, I have talked with a lot of people, Christians as well as non-Christians, and during these talks, I have come to realise, what Lent means to me.
Lent means a quiet time.
A time for reflexion.
In the church-year it is placed between the joy of Christmas and horror of Good Friday as well as the joy of Easter day. And is there a better time than this to settle down and reflect on what Jesus did for us in becoming man ?
To reflect, pray, meditate, study, and get to know more about your relationship with God.

... but to most of us, time for this is hard to find, and that's where I find the "giving up for Lent" very, very useful.
Now, if you usually buy a glossy magazine every week, and settle down and leaf through it on the day you get it, you spend ... what ??? 2 $, 5$ ??? and an hour. Every week.
Will it be a hardship for you to give that up for 7 weeks, and spend an hour with God every week instead ? ... perhaps even send the 14-35 $ to your favourite charity ?
And if it will be a hardship, then I'll have to ask you : who is running your life anyway ?
You or some industry ?

Most of the things we consume are things that ads everywhere tell us we "deserve".
The companies thunder out messages of "You deserve ..." or "Be good to you ..." or "Because only the best is good enough for you ..."
And we have started to believe them ... and to believe in the underlying message : that you are only good to you if you buy our product.

Well ... if you really want to be good to you, then I will suggest that you free yourself from the vicious circle of buying, buying, buying, and start working on the circle of giving, giving, giving instead :-)
Not necessarily give things or money.
Give time.
Give yourself !
THAT is a precious gift to give.
And give yourself and your thoughts to God. Just 10 minutes of every day during Lent. Or even 5 minutes. Ever day.
To my way of thinking, that's true pampering of yourself, because it's a pampering of your soul and spirit, and it will - both in the short and the long run - be far more beneficial to both you and your family than time given to a glossy magazine or browsing for more stuff to buy on the internet or at the Mall.
And giving up shopping for unneccessary stuff is surely not giving up something meaningfull, is it ?

Now. If you have a hard time with giving up something like that (and mind you, this is only an example, I don't live your life, so I couldn't possibly begin to have an informed opinion on how you should live it), then you will have to ask yourself what it is you are finding in those activities.
I realised a good while back, that to me it's quiet-time and alone-time.

And if you cannot find time for that at home, take the dog for a walk, even if you don't have one, and go stand in the drizzling rain for 5 minutes somewhere where you can be alone.

Or take your book of reflection with you to the toilet. Yes, even young children can learn to respect, that when an adult closes the door, they are meant to stay out and not bother her.

Or get up 5 minutes before the rest of the family, and take your quiet-time there.

I know, it seems hard at first, even the 5 minutes ... but really ... giving up 5 minutes of sleep for 7 weeks should be possible for anyone :-)
Yes. You too :-)

And then spend the 5 minutes in prayer. Say the Lord's Prayer, or pray freely. Talk to God about what your wishes and dreams are for today. Not necessarily big stuff, but reflect on what you wish. For yourself and those you love.
Thank Him for your breath and your heart-beat. Give thanks that you have a bed to get out off.
And as you let the words form themselves into prayer, try ending with a minute or so of listening.
Trying to hear the voice of God.
And if you listen really hard, I'm sure you will hear a blessing.
Go with God.