Preparing for Lent

In preparation for this year's season of Lent, I have spent some time reflecting on the three traditional practices or pillars that make up this time: fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. 

In many traditions, today will conclude the pre-Lenten time period. It is often called Mardi Gras, Carnival, or Shrove Tuesday. Some see today as their last opportunity for merry-making. But the true importance of this day is to ponder what Lenten sacrifices that one feels called to make. 

In preparing and examining myself, I have leaned on the questions posed by Tsh Oxenreider in her book Bitter and Sweet: 

1. Have I become overly dependent on a particular sustenance, substance, or practice lately? 

2. Which appetites have a unique grip on my body or soul these days? 

3. What would be a genuinely challenging (but not burdensome) fast? 

4. What would be truly freeing to leave behind?

5. What do I sense God calling me to?

Each individual who chooses to participate in Lent needs to examine what will be a true sacrifice for them. This is a spiritually motivated sacrifice that requires strength to maintain. Strength is found by relying on the Holy through prayer and surrender. It is this daily process of prayer and surrender that helps us to go deeper and grow deeper with the Holy. 

Sometimes a fasting sacrifice is an act of omission (abstinence) but it can also be an act of commission (spiritual discipline). The ways in which to self-surrender and self-sacrifice are innumerable. No matter the chosen sacrifice, the purpose is to lean into the Holy. 

Almsgiving is also an act of sacrifice, but it is an act of sacrifice through the act of giving. An act of giving can be achieved through various means: money, time, food, donated items. Oxenreider suggests connecting your fast with your almsgiving. So, for example, if you are fasting from various foods and have a surplus in your grocery budget, you may practice almsgiving by buying food for a needy family or almsgive  your time by volunteering as a food pantry or food kitchen.   

Prayer is the act of communing with the Holy. It is the act of both giving and receiving, talking and listening. Intentional prayer during Lent is committing to spending time every day with the Holy. Time listening through reading scripture, contemplation. Time talking by being your whole self with the Holy. 

Lent is an excellent opportunity for spiritual growth. It is the act of setting some time apart to rely on the Holy and to deepen your relationship. It is a time of self-sacrifice to remember the great sacrifice of Christ. It is a time that ends with profound rejoicing as we gather on Easter Sunday and commemorate the resurrection. 

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Lencten with the Holy

40. 

Examples within the Bible of a 40 day or 40 year period occur time and time again.

From a Biblical perspective, the number 40 symbolizes purification, transformation, new life, and spiritual growth.

It can also represent a period of testing or trial for the purpose of growing spiritually.

Purposefully entering into trying circumstances for 40 days allows one the opportunity to intentionally rely on the Holy for help and strength.

This was modeled for us by Jesus in Matthew 4, when he entered the wilderness and fasted for 40 days. After fasting those 40 days, he was tempted by the adversary. Despite being hungry, he was able to withstand and overcome all three temptations. We read that when the temptation was over, the adversary left him and the angels came and attended him.

Often, we read of fasting as a precursor to struggle. Moses, David, Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel, Jesus, Paul and Barnabas. There are many many examples of people fasting for strength, courage, and renewal.

The term Lencten is an old English word that means Spring Season.

For many years, I believed my favorite season was fall. I love the colors changing about me and the comfort of cold days shrouded in the warmth of friends and family. It is no doubt a special time of year.

But as time and life have passed, I have come to realize that while I enjoy fall, I need spring. It brings about the re-emergence of green grass and life. Spring allows me to breathe deeply again, to feel the sun on my face, to feel part of the world and no longer apart from it. Spring to me is the manifestation of hope, hope that felt lost with the settling of winter.

Lent is the shortened term of Lencten. It still means the spring season.

The liturgical calendar has identified Lent as a time to commemorate the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. This practice is observed by numerous traditions within Christianity: Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Oriental Orthodox, church of the East, United Protestant, Roman Catholic, and some Anabaptist, Baptist, Reformed, Presbyterian, and other nondenominational churches.

Traditionally, Lent begins on Wednesday and with the 40 days ending on the Thursday before Easter. Some refer to this day as Maundy Thursday. Many beautiful things happened on Maundy Thursday: Jesus washed the disciples feet, the last supper occurred, the final discourse was given, but this was also the night that Jesus was arrested in the garden after being kissed by his friend.

And so, the Lenten time of fasting ends on the anniversary of Jesus arrest.

The tradition with which I have grown up in has not practiced Lent. As a community we have not engaged together in a 40 day fast.

The last few years I have toyed with the idea of Lent and given up a few things.

But this year, I am moved to dig deep into the experience of true fasting, true sacrifice. I want to engage in intentionally leaning into the Holy. I want to awake on Easter Sunday and truly rejoice in a strengthened relationship with the Holy.

Thank You for Being With

All of my life, I have heard people say a particular request in prayer that undoubtedly shaped my thinking and understanding of God.

We do what we know and what we have heard and what we have seen and what we have been taught.

Sometimes things are overtly taught to us and sometimes they are simply modeled again and again and again. 

But these things become ours, they become a part of our understanding, a part of our thinking, they teach us how to navigate our relationship with the Holy, they teach us what a relationship with the Holy may look like. 

“…and God, please be with so-so during such-such…” 

Please be with. 

A sincere request on behalf of another for God to be with the person we identify as in need. A petition, a plea, an action; something we can do for someone when in a situation, which we often feel helpless.

After years of hearing this request, though, it began to strike me as odd and I began to question its value:

            Why are we asking God to be with?             
            Do we not believe that God is always with?

In my questioning and pondering, I began to wonder if we were looking from the wrong direction, approaching God from the wrong direction. 

Psalm 46 is a most comforting Psalm. It was written as a song to be sung by women. We focus most often on verse 10, “Be still and know that I am God”. 

In April of 2022, I found myself sitting by a pond at a silent retreat. I sat there for quite some time, resting in the stillness of the day, becoming a part of it and being still myself, knowing God and being filled with His presence. 

I had my Bible with me and was meditating over and over on Psalm 46:10. Wanting to stretch deeper, I went back and read the whole Psalm over and over. As I read, some notes in the margin caught my eye. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
            (very present, or abundantly available)

Abundantly available. 

Abundantly available. 

These words repeated themselves within me over and over. I sat and meditated, abundantly available, abundantly available. 

He wasn’t just available, but abundantly so. 

As I sat and meditated and thought on these things, it became clear to me that I had in fact been looking at things from the wrong direction. 

This simple request that I had heard (and said) all of my life, this request that had undoubtedly shaped my belief and understanding. This request that God be with me or that God be with so-so, was in all reality, moot. 

I believed that in being in relationship with the Holy, I needed to ask for God to draw near to me, when in fact, it was I who needed to draw near to the Holy. 

He already was with, and not just a little bit, but abundantly so. In other words, I was asking for something that already was, something I already had. 

I realized my prayer and perspective needed to change. 

“…and God, please help so-so to stay with you during such-such. Help them to understand that not only are you available, but that you are abundantly so.” 

This small shift in understanding, has changed a great many things in my relating to the Holy. 

In requesting God be with so-so during such-such, I realized that this was always associated with a degree of fear and/or anxiety. What if he wasn’t with? Understanding the truth, that he was already abundantly available, allowed me to let go of that fear and anxiety. 

In requesting God be with so-so during such-such, I realized I was viewing God as optional. He may or may not be present. 

In requesting God be with so-so during such-such, I realized I was putting myself in control. I wasn’t in relationship, I didn’t commune. I checked in when and if I wanted. 

In requesting God be with so-so during such-such, I realized that I was missing out on the true depth of our relationship. 

The thing about rote phrases is that they often don’t really mean what we actually say. When people hear this often quoted request they understand the heart of the praying person and appreciate the sincerity and grace with which it is petitioned. 

But the other thing about rote phrases is that rather we mean what we actually say or not, we still hear what we actually say and it affects who we are and who we become. 

If I want to live with the Holy, I have to know and understand and live within the truth, that he is abundantly available to me.