This week begins the season of Lent in my faith tradition. I grew up being encouraged to give up something for the forty days of Lent in order to better appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for me by dying on the cross for my sins. A popular thing has always been to give up chocolate for Lent. I suppose, giving up chocolate pales a little in comparison to giving up one's life on a cross.
My sister took this Lent thing very seriously. She always gave up popcorn and wine. Now you have to know my sister, she loved nothing better than a quiet evening at home with a big bowl of popcorn smothered in butter and a big glass of red wine. I never doubted the sincerity of my sister's Lenten devotion.
I begin every season of Lent with the best of intentions, but I confess I don't think I have ever made it successfully through a whole season of Lent. So, this year I was thinking I might try something different. They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Instead of giving something up, I have decided to take some time to nurture my relationship with God. I want to take some time during this season of Lent to develop eyes that can see, ears that can hear and a heart that can receive the mystery and wonder of God in the world around me.
Learning to see God at work in our world and learning to hear God speaking to us does not come easy or naturally for us human beings. It takes discipline, just like giving up chocolate, but I think the reward might be slightly deeper. I need to learn how to slow down this Lent and to take deep breaths. I need to learn how to centre myself in God's abundant love and become grounded in God's amazing grace. Instead of giving up chocolate, I am going to take some time to clear away the clutter in my life like my addiction to things and my need to be constantly busy. Instead of popcorn and wine, I think I will try to weed out some of my negative attitudes like my cynicism and my criticalness.
I am going to ask God to help me discover the wonder and the mystery of my faith and to let that wonder and mystery change me, mould me and make me whole. I am going to invite that wonder and mystery empower me to be an instrument of light and healing to God's broken world. It could be a very interesting Lenten journey. It might be easier to just give up chocolate instead. I invite you to consider joining me on this journey. What would it mean for you to let the wonder and mystery of God draw you deeper into a relationship with God?
