This picture was taken at Sewanee by Catherine last winter. None of the pictures I've taken of this cross have quite captured the feeling she has captured in this one so I'm borrowing her talent for this one!
Today is Ash Wednesday; the beginning of Lent. Today is the day we begin our annual 40 day journey toward Easter. Lent is a season of preparation, of penitence, of being deliberate about putting Jesus first (which we should do anyway...), of self-sacrifice. Jokes are often made about what we are giving up for Lent. The first time I was aware of someone doing this was during my first year of college. My roommate, Eileen, gave up all snack foods for Lent. At the time, I thought she was crazy. But, during that time, I watched as she went through those 6 weeks with temptation all around her and held fast to her commitment. I was in awe of her ability to do that. A couple of years later, I found myself a new member of a church in which Lenten discipline was an important part of the season and so began many years of giving up sweets or snacks or meat on Fridays or any of a number of other things I enjoyed. The reasoning in giving something up is that when you think of that thing it is supposed to remind you that this sacrifice is small in comparison to the great sacrifice made by Jesus for us and our sins.
Over the years I have discovered that there are other ways to observe Lent and have started taking on something instead of or in addition to giving something up. This year my Lenten discipline has 3 parts. First I plan to give up my daily candy bar during my break at school. Instead, that dollar a day will go to the food pantry at St. George's. This means that instead of me having an unnecessary snack, a less fortunate person will have food that will sustain them. Second, I will be taking part in a weekly Supper/Study on Prayer/Praise Service at St. George's. My third discipline will be to read at least one nonfiction, spiritual book. I have settled on Mark Hall's "The Well".
None of this is done to call attention to myself. Instead, the purpose is to help me grow in my walk with our Lord.
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