Give Yourself Away This Lent

Lent. Eh?

Unless you are Catholic or Orthodox, chances are, the arrival of Lent on Wednesday didn’t even hit your radar. I know that some Protestants do recognize it (as the church of my youth did), but for the most part Lent is regarded by many as primarily a Catholic tradition.

Hold on. Come on back, I promise not to try to convert you. Yet. LOL! No seriously, I promise. Lent is definitely not something just for Catholics and I think all Christians can benefit from observing this mysterious, beautiful time of year.

So, what is Lent? It’s a 40 day preparation leading up to Easter Sunday, starting on Ash Wednesday.  Easter and the Resurrection are the cornerstone for the Christian faith and it makes sense to spend time reflecting on what Jesus did for us. It brings a lot more meaning to the actual day of Easter.

Many people associate Lent with simply giving something up. Some people think Lent is the period of time when fast-food restaurants sell fish sandwiches in an effort to lure in Catholic patrons. When I was younger, I usually gave up chocolate or gum, but now as an adult, I find that I need to do more. For many years now, weeks before Lent, I like to brainstorm ways to grow in my faith. Lent is not just about giving up something like chocolate, coffee, or meat. It’s about trying to grow closer to Jesus.

If you are interested in doing something for Lent, I compiled some ideas to get you started. Believe me, there are people that do some truly amazing things during this time and I can only hope to work my way up to their level of devotion. We can look at Lenten preparation in three major categories:  Giving, fasting, and spiritual growth.

GIVING:  Most churches define giving as time, talent, and treasure. 

* Call up a homeless shelter, domestic violence shelter, or other non-profits and see if there is anything you can provide for them. When I worked at a domestic violence shelter, people liked to call around Christmas and Easter to see if they could buy the Easter meal for the shelter or get something special for the ladies and their children. Many places can use soap, shampoo, socks, and toothbrushes. If you go to places like the Dollar Store, you can buy a lot for a little and really help these organizations out. Be sure to get your kids involved; they have a great way of teaching selfless giving.

* You can do the traditional practice of giving something up. But, to be effective, it needs to be something that is a true sacrifice. The idea behind this, is that Jesus sacrificed for us, so in a very small way, we are trying to imitate that. For me, whenever I have given something up, every time I desire it during the 40 days, I am reminded of what Jesus did for me. Self-discipline is also a virtue that is sorely lacking in this world and learning to have control over something that quite possibly controls us can only add to your growth as a person.

FASTING:  Remember, fasting is more than just fasting from food.   

* One year, I gave up Facebook and, honestly, it was wonderful. I was freed from its control and I found more productive things to do with my time. Granted, Facebook has its benefits, but it can also be a time-suck. Letting it go for 40 days was liberating.

* Another year, my family gave up all electronics after 5:00p.m. (except important phone calls). We used that time to play board games, read books together, go on walks, do a Bible study, and just focus on each other. I didn’t miss the electronics one bit and we all relished in the family time.  Once the kids went to bed, Dustin and I focused solely on each other. We played chess, did a Bible study together, and read together. This might sound boring, but it was awesome having no meaningless distractions. After Lent was over, we allowed electronics again, but now we watch TV so little that we got rid of cable.

* As Catholics, on Fridays, we don’t eat meat or fancy meals. It’s a time to think about those less fortunate and refrain from indulgence. If you have something simple like rice and beans (super cheap), take the money saved and put it in a envelope to give to the poor at the end of Lent. Try not to eat out, but eat simply all day long. Every Friday that we do this, I am reminded of those that will go hungry that night. It really makes me think of those that are out there suffering.

* If you are brave enough to fast and you are healthy, try it. You don’t have to do it for weeks on end or even days. You can decide that you are just going to eat less on Mondays, or skip dinner on Tuesdays, or only have something like bread and broth one day a week. Dustin is giving up one meal a day this year. But, I warn you, you must couple this with prayer. Give it to God, pray to Him about it, and ask Him for strength.  “Fasting should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their poverty and those who suffer.”–Catholic.com

SPIRITUAL GROWTH:  The spirit magnifies the impact of giving and fasting.

* Write a letter each week to someone that you know is hurting or going through a rough time. Write a letter, not an email or text. I guarantee that it will touch whoever you chose to write. The fact that you took time out of your life to reach out to them will let them know that you love them and care.

* Focus on spiritual growth each day. Hopefully, it’ll blossom into a sustainable habit. Add a Bible study or get a devotions book. One year, right before Dustin deployed, I gave my time to God. I woke up before the sun had risen, I drove to a large desert hill, climbed to the top, and watched the sun rise. There was no one else up, the sun was gorgeous, and it was a perfect time to journal, do a devotional, or just pray. I didn’t get to do it for very long, as we had to move back to Kansas, but while it lasted, I loved it.

* Watch the Passion of the Christ on the Friday before Easter.

* Start a new religious tradition as a family. Sunday evening or one night a week, pray together as a family.  It can be awkward at first if you have never done it before, but it will get easier the more you do it. Have your kids make a list of people that they would like to pray for (maybe kids at school) and have them bring their list to the family prayer. We didn’t pray together as a family for a long time, but when we started our kids took to it quicker than we did. Now, our kids never let us forget to pray. If you don’t have kids, pray with your spouse. It’s powerful and it will draw you closer together.

All these things listed above are meant to bring about a positive change in you, improve your relationship with Jesus, and remove sin. Don’t see these as a way to gain brownie points with God, but simply as a way to come closer to Him. See it as a refreshing renewal of your faith. Be creative, weave these categories together to create a more meaningful experience. The world screams at us to indulge ourselves, to seek nothing but pleasure and comfort. However, often times the only thing we can give to God is our comfort and maybe that’s why the only way we can ever grow is to move out of our comfort zone. Many people see this as a burden–the giving up of pleasure and comfort–but I truly look forward to this time every year.  I’m excited to see where God can grow me. I encourage you, Catholic or Protestant, to challenge yourself and find ways to grow during Lent. Please share your ideas on what you have done in the past or what you are planning this year.

Take the Lenten Challenge — give yourself up, and be amazed at what blessings follow.