Don’t Give Up, Take Up

Today marks the first day of the 2010 Lenten season.

Lent is a church tradition that has been around for hundreds of years. Historically, those who observed Lent would spend the 40 days (officially 46 days not counting the 6 Sundays throughout) before Easter praying, fasting, and giving money to the poor. All this was done to focus and prepare the individual for Easter weekend – when the death and resurrection of Jesus is remembered and celebrated by Christians around the world.

As with many practices and traditions affiliated with religious institutions over the years things begin to become clouded or muddled. Traditions are some of the most opposed and supported aspects of the church. Some people are willing to die over the dumbest traditions, while other tradtions are ignored or rejected because someone labels them outdated or irrelevant.

One of the major problems with church traditions, whether good or bad, is the lack of communication explaining why certain traditions exist and why they’re important to practice. A couple examples may help.

Stained glass windows illuminate many church buildings. Who cares about stained glass? They usually depict bearded men holding cupd or lambs. But many are actually rich with meaning and insightful symbolism. At particular times throughout church history images have been used to help people worship God and contemplate His Word engaging different senses. No one tells us how to use the stained glass windows in our churches to worship, so they just get admired for their ornate design or pretty colors. We’re missing out.

Robes have never made sense to me. Most robes, excluding bath robes, Geisha robes, and Hogwarts robes, are ridiculous. Choir robes, preacher’s robes, or graduation robes. Why are they worn? This tradition clearly lacks adequet communication. Boxers robes are cool I guess, they’re usually all satiny and some have scorpions or tigers on them.

Lent, in America, has become a litte distorted. Instead of being a tradition marked by prayer, fasting, and giving, it appears to be most concerned with fasting from anything the individual chooses. But why are we fasting? Has it become another tradition many follow but few understand?

My first experience with Lent was took place when I was in college. I gave up listening to music for 40 days. It was torture. Originally I did it to remove noise from my busy life hoping to hear God more clearly. It became a countdown. It didn’t prepare me for Easter. It was all about proving that I could hold out. Ultimately I failed, there was just too much DMB to be experienced.

Some give up coffee (sucks for them). Others give up alcohol or chocolate, or going to the gym, or watching TV. But why? Does giving up these things create a greater dependecy on God? Or frustration at having to turn down cake at every party you visit?

I have found Lent to be a much more beneficial experience when I take something up for 40 days instead of giving something up. They say it takes about 21 days to develop a habit. Lent provides a great opportunity to focus on a spiritual practice for a set amount of time with Easter being the motivation behind and end point to work towards.

What have you wanted to experience?

How have you wanted to grow?

What habit do you want to develop?

Then don’t give up, take up.

Here are a couple suggestions to get Lent brewing (remember you have 46 days):

Read all the Psalms (4 a day).

Tell the truth.

Give something away every day.

Clean off the dinner table every night.

Pray for 5 minutes a day.

Make a “Gratitude Journal” and write 5 things you’re thankful for each day.

Journal your prayers everyday.

Write an encouragement note to a different person each day.

Stay after school each day for ½ hour to pick up trash.

Memorize Romans 8 (a verse a day).

Go outside and be quiet for 5 minutes a day listening to God.

Send your parents or siblings an “I love you” text everyday.

Invite a person to church every day.

Apologize to a person you’ve offended every day.

Buy different person lunch every day.

Read Mark and Luke (a chapter a day).

Eat only fruit, vegetables, and water.

Go to a friend’s practice/game to cheer them on every day everyday.

Talk to a person you can’t stand or that can’t stand you every day.

Leave a note on a different person’s car every day telling them how valuable they are.

Reflect on different images of the crucifix.

Pray for someone you hate, or that hates you every day.

Get to know someone new every day.

Make 40 PB+J bag lunches to pass out to those asking for food.

Read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

Read Hebrews 12:3 everyday and meditate on the meaning of the verse.

Whether you give up something or take up something for Lent, above all, don’t stop growing.