Lent
Lots of people are talking about Lent on Twitter and Facebook today. For those of you who don’t know what this Lent stuff is, basically it is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday that is to symbolize the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert prior to beginning his ministry.
Jesus fasted for 40 days while in the desert. (Traditionally fasting indicates that someone went without food.) So, the biggest feature of Lent is to “give something up” for 40 days. People give up Ice Cream, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Candy, Sweet Tea, Fried Food, Caffeine, and all sorts of things.
This year I noticed that people have been saying things that sound like this, “Well, I think I will give up chocolate this year for Lent. I don’t eat chocolate all that much, so it shouldn’t be too hard to make it until Easter.” In my mind this defeats the purpose of Lent.
Lent isn’t a check-the-box exercise to get Jesus Points. Lent is a time for Christians to remove something from their lives that could distract them from focusing on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. I wonder if our insincere adherence to Lent causes people who aren’t Christians to add another reason why Christianity isn’t an option for them.
oh dear, I am so behind in point
in fact it never crossed my mind or ears to do this; until now (of course)
If I had to give up something it would have to be the time I spend on the Internet when I should rather be spending time with my family or God – but then again, I do not need Lent as an excuse.
Some on chalked in the Phrase "What did you Give up for Lent" on the painted chalkboard we have in our office kitchen – here are some of the entries (only a few Christians here):
My husband
My wisdom teeth
Sugar
Cigarettes
Nothing
My Sleep
My Sanity
Nandos
What is Lent? (I wrote that one, but no one took the bait – yet)
My recent post Caption Please
Yeah, Lent seems to be a dying concept.