Lent - Give up or Take up?

Photo courtesy of Bible Society
 /Common Grace

By Ian Acheson

“So what are you giving up for Lent?”

Up until two years ago, I’d never given Lent much thought. For some reason, I know not why, I’d thought it an outdated practice that Catholics observe. Typically, it appeared to be reduced to the question above. In my overly judgmental moments I found it strange that apparently non-pious people chose to participate in such a “custom”.

Two years ago I felt the nudge in my soul to explore Lent and one of the studies I followed introduced me to the notion of “spring cleaning of the soul”  which particularly grabbed me. We spring clean everything else, so why not the soul.

Yesterday I was cleaning out a cupboard that we used to store odds and ends and invariably I came across stuff that at one time was useful but no longer. Similarly, I’ve found junk in my soul that needs throwing out as I’ve refocused my walk with Jesus during the past two Lent seasons.

Fasting is an important aspect of our daily walks allowing us to let go of our dependence on certain things (food, TV shows, internet, etc) so we can filled by the Lord as we rely on Him. It’s a practice I grapple with and it’s this challenge that makes it worthwhile to keep doing regularly.

However, I’ve also found it important to actually take up a new practice during Lent. Activities that change my focus in my daily time with Jesus.

 “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.” (Eugene Peterson)

This year I chose to take-up two activities:

1. The Australian Bible Society has teamed up with Common Grace to focus on the Lord’sPrayer. I find it such a great prayer in aligning my spirit to focus on God. In a year where I’m seeking to “adore” God more, the Lord’s Prayer is an excellent way of starting my day.

2. I follow Margaret Feinberg’s work and she brings thousands of people around reading the Bible. Two years ago we read the entire Bible (yes, in six weeks!) and last year, the New Testament. This year, we’re reading the Gospels. But Margaret also introduced us to the idea that a friend showed her of using the Colour Method for reading each passage. I love this as it forces me to linger longer on the words and the message. I won’t do it everyday but I hope to do it 3-4 times a week. Try it.

Photo courtesy of Margaret Feinberg.com

I hope we all draw closer to Jesus during these next six weeks as we prepare for Easter.

What are your thoughts on Lent?

Are you giving up or taking up something for Lent this year?

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

Ash Wednesday, A Personal Account

We were just a little uneasy. We had never done this before. We knelt at the altar as the minister prayed, "Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior."

"Amen," we responded as Pastor Brian dipped his thumb in a small bowl of ashes and marked a smudgy black cross on each forehead.

Back in the car my daughter looked in the mirror, "Ooh," disappointment rang in her voice. "It hardly shows. I wanted a nice dark one so it'd last all day." She was going back to school. My husband, who had an appointment with his banker, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave his forehead a good scrubbing. I was headed back to my computer which was unlikely to note whether or not I had marked the beginning of the Lenten season by attending an Ash Wednesday service.

But in my heart I was very glad I had because this year I was going to "do" Lent. Since childhood I had been frustrated by the way Easter seemed to sneak up on me without warning. I was never really ready to celebrate the glories of the day. And the feeling had increased through the stages of motherhood as sometime in the week before Easter I would suddenly realize, Help, we have to dye eggs and make baskets! I have to plan a dinner! The kids need new clothes!

And the years I was involved in a pageant at church were worse yet--I didn't even have time to get upset over not having enough time.

Somehow, the early Christians seem to have handled things better. Maybe we can learn from them. They started six and a half weeks before Easter examining and simplifying their lives and preparing their hearts for the greatest of all Christian festivals. And they began by observing Ash Wednesday. This observance is a very ancient tradition. The earliest detailed accounts of Lenten ceremonies is in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus, written around the year 200.

It was the practice in Rome for new Christians to begin a period of public penance on that day. They dressed in sackcloth and remained apart from social contact until they were reconciled with the Christian community on Maundy Thrusday (the Thursday before Easter). In the 6th century Pope Gregory (who also developed the Gregorian Chant) added sprinkling the penitents with ashes which gave the day the name Ash Wednesday.

When the practice of public repentance fell into disuse sometime in the 8th century the beginning of Lent was marked by a service which included the recitation of 7 penitential psalms and the placing of ashes on the heads of the entire congregation, accompanied by the traditional words,"Remember, O man, that you are ashes, and to ashes you shall return." (Gen. 3:19)

Today many churches hold similar services, such as the one my family attended, where the worshipper receives a cross marked on the forehead with the ashes obtained by burning the palms used on Palm Sunday the year before. Some people find that wearing purple clothing items helps them focus on the season. Last year my daughter added to our season by planting in our garden a Lenten Rose, a lovely purple flower which blooms in February--even in Idaho!

From Seasons of Prayer, Rediscovering Classic Prayers Through the Christian Calendar, by Donna Fletcher Crow, 2000, Beacon Hill Press. Http://ning.it/XdPvIr

Donna is the author of 40 books, mostly novels of British history. Her newest book An Unholy Communion, The Monastery Murders, will be released next month. You can see the trailer and read about all her books at www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com