In recent years I've taken Lent much more seriously. I'm still in the process of balancing just how I should observe it. In the past I did what most people do, I'd choose something that was pretty much an insignificant luxury for me and sanctimoniously declared that I was abstaining from it. It was usually something superficial like ice cream or television, as if it was a great sacrifice to go without Hagan Daz or CSI. In the past couple of years I've gone the other extreme. I did a full on fast of nothing but water Monday thru Saturday, eating only on Sunday for 40 days. This was beneficial in the weight loss department and it showed extreme discipline, but I was too busy thinking about next meal to focus properly on meditating and communing with God. Regardless, God blessed me in spite of me. Others observe Lent by giving of their time and talents. One may volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter during the Lenten period to "imitate Christ" and show obedience. Jesus fed the hungry and clothed the poor, right? So what is it really that we should be doing during Lent?
A forty-day period before Easter, Lent traditionally begins on Ash Wednesday. The forty days represent the time that Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by satan. Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days, and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-2, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-2). He overcame all three of satan's temptations by citing scripture to him. Well 'ol louis sipher can't handle that so he rolled out.
Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. The number forty has many Biblical references: Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinaii with God; Elijah spent forty days and nights walking to Mount Horeb; the forty days and nights God sent rain in the great flood of Noah; the Hebrew people wandered in the desert for forty years while traveling to the Promised Land; the forty days Jonah in his prophecy of judgemet gave the city of Nineveh in which to repent.
The observance of Lent has become much more lax over the centuries. From the 5th to 9th cent. strict fasting was observed; only one meal was allowed per day, and meat and fish (and sometimes eggs and dairy) were forbidden. Now we pretty much choose something we could live without anyway. As a matter of fact, many people splurge on the very thing they plan to give up just before Lent. You may have just finished observing "Fat Tuesday" or "Mardi Gras". In many countries, the last day before Lent has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. Rio de Janerio hosts one of the biggest festivals associated with Lent. Because it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during this period , some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
A fast is a personal act of devotion to God and as I have come to learn, it is disciplined diet, not total abstention from food. Orthodox Christians recognize five levels of fasting:
- Abstaining from meat
- Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, and cheese
- Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and fish
- Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, fish, oil, and wine
- Abstaining from all foods and beverages except bread, water, juices, honey, and nuts.
To fast, just omit an item or two from your diet—something that you would normally eat during the course of the day. Every time you get an appetite for those items, you will be reminded of your fast and that will remind you of the reason for your fast, and you can pray instead of eating. This can have immense spiritual benefit. Which brings us to the real reason for Lent. A disciplined and focused practice of prayer. Lent helps you reboot your prayer life. It's easy to over think the concept of prayer but it's actually pretty simple. You don't have to construct some superfluous verbal tome that would rival MLK's "I Have A Dream", but you do want to accomplish a few things. You should...
- Address who your talking to.
- Indicate submission to His will
- Be thankful for His blessings
- Ask for forgiveness
- State your needs
- Ask for assistance
- ask for protection
The conversation might sound something like this...
" Y'know God (address), good lookin' out with that promotion I got on the job last week. I can't thank you enough for that. I really appreciate everything that you did to make that happen for me (be thankful). I know that it doesn't seem like it because I keep messin' up and should know better. You think you could you cut me a break (ask for forgiveness)? Y'know...will you forgive me? Oh yeah, like earlier today when I was thinking those thoughts about Karen in Accounting. She was wearing that skirt I like and,..well anyway, that wasn't right. I know I have a hard time resisting temptation sometimes. Would you help me out with this (ask for assistance)? Anyway now that I've got the promotion, I've got to put in a few more hours creating algorithms. I'm not sure how to go about finding the time (state your needs). Would you help me so I can be effective in my new gig? What do you think is the best way for me to do that? Regardless, whatever you decide is cool with me (submit to His will). Finally I'd just like to ask that you keep me away from trouble (ask for protection) and help me recognize it! I really do appreciate (be thankful) you God...."
Just think of it as a regular conversation with anyone else, just remember who you're talking to. There should be at least the same level of intimacy to this conversation as there would be with a good friend or spouse. You can tell your best friend/spouse anything with complete confidence and expect of sincere dialogue and advice.
If we choose to give up something for Lent, it should be something that makes us a little uncomfortable to do without. It should require some restraint and control on our part. It should be a bit of a challenge. It should be significant enough that it reminds us of the purpose of Lent. So based on the above I've decided to give up all meats for Lent this year, and yes that includes poultry. You know some people will try to get around the whole meat thing by stating that turkey and chicken aren't technically "meat". I think that this will be most effective for me because a) I won't be starving myself, b) I'm an unapologetic carnivore, and c) it's not a perfunctory gesture like giving up chocolate or fast food.If all of this is to lofty for you right out of the gate, start out small and work your way up to more significant challenges. Jesus gave it all up for us on The Cross. You can give up Starbucks for forty days.
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