Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The Lenten Season...

This time of year hasn't always been a big deal for me. Yes, I'm a Christian, but our church(es) never stressed the whole "lent" event. For those of you who may not know what Lent is, it's the 40 days before Easter Sunday, traditionally when people "prepare" themselves by giving up some part of their lives in order to "suffer as Christ did" when He was in the desert for 40 days without food or water, being tormented by satan. In my adult life, I've been one to make light of Lent, and even poke fun at people who practice it. After all, if you're trying to "suffer as Christ did," how is not eating chocolate or not eating meat ONE DAY OF THE WEEK make that happen in your mind? That's ridiculous to me, and on some levels, insulting. Christ suffered far beyond what we could ever imagine, let alone scoffing at His sacrifice by trying to be like Him in your giving up of your daily snickers bar. PFFFT.

Today, however... I have been enlightened after all the years I've put my hand up at people when they ask me if I'm giving up something for Lent. I heard another blogger's words on the radio, and I was convicted. This person allowed a perspective of filling a void with Christ... Taking something out of our "worldly routines" and replacing it in some way with the Lord. Some people give up social media - and they could instead fill that time with reading the Bible, or prayer. Some give up foods/beverages/bad habits, and could instead fill that time with paying for a meal for someone else, buying the car behind you coffee in the Tim Horton's drive thru, or volunteering. This blogger talked about how, by giving up something in your life that matters to you, that shows others your dedication to following Christ. By reducing yourself as a humble follower of Christ's leading, you are providing a way for other people to not only see your faith, but understand you and perhaps learn something about Christ along the way.

It's no easy task to take an old tradition and inspire people who have seen it from afar, and pass it off as just one silly thing those religious fanatics do. I can see where some of the people in my life would have this exact reaction. That makes it tough for someone like me who isn't one to break out the soap box and profess anything to much of anyone. Being creative about Lent could enlighten the old dogs (like me)... so I'm going to have to think about it. I imagine most of what I could do would be laughed off, shrugged away, or cause someone to just look at me like I'm nuts. I need to get my thinking shoes on and come up with something that will be just odd enough... just unique enough to get attention from the nay-sayers, and bring Christ into the conversation.

What will you give up for Lent this year? Will it only be for your own suffering, or will it inspire good things in others? I'm hoping to find that out...