Did you know that Lent begins tomorrow? Every year people give up something that they deem vital to their lives so that they can feel a tiny portion of pain that Jesus felt for us. My mom has told me that her grandfather, Pat, would give up smoking every year. He would suffer through the withdrawls and the coughing and the pain for the 40 days of Lent... Just to remind us of what Jesus did for us...I have to admit I have been pretty unsuccessful participating in Lent in the past. I always mean well but it never really goes the way it outta... I always give up. Well thats a small untruth I have read my Bible every day of lent! But the sacrifice that others give during lent never really makes an impression on me. I can always focus on whats here and now... not what I'm missing out on.
This year I am taking a different path for Lent. I have decided to participate in World Visions Relentless: act:s of sacrifice. Its a series of challenges put forth over the next 6 weeks to help us better realize the meaning of sacrifice. The first challenge if to think about what we are willing to sacrifice...
As I've said before its always hard for me to sacrifice because my mind just doesn't process it after awhile. I can't give up my phone or computer. I'm not down with giving up soda anymore... I don't smoke or drink or play any game obssesively. I don't have friends nearby so I can't give up a social outlet... So I started thinking about what aspects of myself should I give up... and it hit me... I need to give up my fear and laziness. I have these irrational fears (that probably most everyone has) like people won't like me, or forget about me, or don't care, that people don't like what I make for them. So this lenten season I'm gonna make hats and just give them away. I am going to put more effort into writing to people and making authentic connections with those I have around me. And for laziness... well I am going to clean my room (that will be a process) and not "forget" to call someone. I will look around me, persue things that I feel passionate about (i.e. people) and just get stuff done! And if I need to give up something for reals... I'm not going to buy anything craft related until Easter (2 exceptions... I'm making a blanket for a friends wedding and that project is exempt AND I'm buying some watercolors... tomorrow so that'll slide beneath the lent line right?). And to top it off I'm going to keep track of it here and in my own journal.
The picture above somewhat sums up what I deem sacrfice to be. To me sacrifice strips everything that you hold dear... the objects, the people and you can finally just rely on God and can feel His power. You can't take anything with you. Just the faith that God will get you through it all in one piece.
Happy Lent people. I hope your sacrifice this season is one that makes you think.
