Lent can be fun. Or not.

February 26, 2009 by Pastor Dan.

I overheard some dear parishioners last week chuckling about what they planned to “give up” for Lent. The list included succotash, sky-diving, etc. Very sacrificial. On the other extreme, one person is giving up all sweets except natural fruit. Sweet.

Is this what we ought to do in order to prepare to celebrate Easter (one popular explanation of why Lent is kept)? Does this imitate the Christ who went into the wilderness for forty days to wrestle with demons? (His own, or The demon?)

One Holy Week years ago in seminary, I tried to fast just from the close of Maundy Thursday’s evening service until Easter morning. It didn’t work. I cheated, because I also had a huge amount of work to do to be ready for the liturgical observances in the seminary chapel for the Triduum Sacrum.

Not my seminary community, but you can read about their Triduum Sacrum here.

I am more of the mind now to make light of giving up things. Especially if they are things to which I fully intend to return after the season of Lent. If Jesus struggled with the Devil in the wilderness for 40 days, it is clear that he came to find the spiritual strength to forego power and wealth, etc., forever. In token of that, giving up chocolate for Lent seems pointless and trivial.

(But for fun, you may want to check out this: “Dear Jesus, in Honor of Your Death, I’m Giving up Facebook…for 40 Days.”) This unidentified blogger is irreverent but insightful. Wish I knew who he is.

Here are some suggestions, if you want:

• Give up something you won’t go back to on Easter Sunday. Like try giving up some money for a worthy cause. (Your church can sure use it.) The cause or church you give it to in fact will use it, so there’s no chance you will get it back. Thus it’s a real sacrifice. Sacrifice is very different from postponed pleasure.
• Try taking something on for Lent instead of giving something up. Take on a discipline which requires effort or commitment from you. Examples: write letters to people you have meant to stay in touch with. Visit people who are in the hospital.  Pray five times daily like the Muslims. Read something on paper rather than on the screen. Plant more vegetables than you can ever eat with a clear plan to give away your surplus. Feed the hungry. Visit the homeless.  Eat your vegetables.
• Test out a self-discipline which is really hard, and actually resist bragging about it. Examples: promise yourself not to be cynical, resentful, or testy for 40 days. See how long it takes for friends and family to notice a change in your behavior.
• Write down your resolves and disciplines and seal them in an envelope dated for Easter Monday. Put in the bottom of your sock drawer. The point? To see if come April 13 you have completely forgotten the self-discipline you had selected now.

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