If I came up to you tomorrow on the street and asked you what Lenten discipline you had committed to, would you have an answer? Would you even know what I was talking about?
If you grew up Catholic (or in a largely Catholic community), you may have an inkling. It’s the reason why Fish Fry Friday is a thing. Fridays are a fasting day in that tradition. There are specific rules, but I’m going to just generalize here to the fact that most Roman Catholics can’t eat meat on the Fridays of Lent. Most Protestant churches recognize the value of different forms of fasting, but don’t set any firm restrictions regarding it. Different individuals might fast during the daylight hours or choose to eat only healthy foods. But why do we do this? Is it some crazy weight-loss plan? No!
The idea is that during Lent, we put aside our “worldly” desires and focus on our relationship with God. Perhaps you skip your lunch meal and spend your time reading the Bible. Perhaps as you eat your limited menu, you spend some time examining where you need to repent and turn back to God.
Many people talk about things like “giving up chocolate for Lent” or “giving up swearing for Lent”. I would argue that taking ON a discipline is probably more life-changing and God-pleasing. What about taking on the discipline of reaching out to someone each day? What if you take a short scripture and journal how you hear God speaking to you through it? What if you begin a prayer journal and daily spend time praying for each person on that list? In previous years, I would send you to the 40 Acts folks, but they’re on hiatus this year. Each day they set before you a different challenge meant to make you more aware, more giving, more loving.
(Confession time: I’ve never been able to complete all 40 Acts! It’s hard!)
How many of us have watched the movie Chocolat and seen the town that where everyone walks around with frowns on their faces.
There’s no laughter. No… beauty.
Of course, someone comes in to upset the balance and is challenged by the establishment. We need to achieve a balance. This IS a holy time of preparation. But that doesn’t mean that we need to neglect the beauty all around us.
Perhaps we need to see it with eyes that recognize it is all from God.
Time spent with family and friends is so important in our lives. Can we learn from the Jewish faith and recount the stories as a part of this set-apart time?
However you choose to use this time, may it bring you closer to the One who created the heavens and the earth and who loves us so much that He sent His Son to defeat death and redeem our lives. Lenten blessings!
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Kelly Jahn is pastor of the Juda Zion and Oakley Union United Methodist Churches.
