Giving Up For Lent

She was in her season of grief. It was the time of year when everything reminded her of loss. The weather was cold, snowing, and inhibited her ability to get outside or even to be with other people. She just wanted to curl up under a blanket and do nothing.

Tears would slip down her cheeks as the feelings of loss and grief grew to huge proportions. Her emotions were raw. She was irritated easily. Even the Valentine's Day commercials made her angry as they depicted families, close relationships, remembering those you love. It was the time she remember the loss of those she loved . . . her sisters . . . her father . . . other friends. The month seemed to be filled with anniversaries that she didn't want to remember.

She withdrew. She pushed people away. She cried and wailed at God for taking away those she loved and leaving her alone . . . well maybe not completely alone . . . but lonely.

Finally Valentine's Day passed. Now came Lent. Lent . . . the season of se1f-examination, prayer, and fasting that precedes the observance Maundy Thursday evening, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter which begins on Saturday night. In Western churches, the season opens on Ash Wednesday and consists of forty days excluding Sundays. The term Lent is derived from roots that mean to lengthen. The Lenten season points to the spring of the year and to the increasing daylight hours which spring brings.

But she couldn't see or feel spring. All she could feel was grief . . . sadness . . . anger. Maybe this year instead of giving up soft drinks, or sweets, or things . . . maybe this year she would give up her grief.

So what are you giving up for lent this year? This seems to be the question of the day. Many answers are given. Most are something like, sugar, fatty foods, bread, or something like that. Some give up fast food. Others give up things like . . . smoking . . . alcohol . . . or some other perceived bad habit (maybe porn or 50 shades of gray?). Whatever is given up is a choice.

Giving up something for Lent is not a requirement. It is more a desire to remove distractions and focus upon the season as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter. Maybe we need to give up less tangible things like self-absorption . . . greed . . . or even our grief. For those of us privileged not be to in need perhaps we could give up our attitudes of entitlement . . . our sense that what is normal for us is normal for everyone. Perhaps we could spend time experiencing another's set of life circumstances.

Maybe, just maybe we could add something this year--tolerance . . . or random acts of compassion . . . working with the homeless . . . or just shoveling the neighbor's snow. Maybe, just maybe Lent is more about acting like Christ--loving others--than it is about self.

Holy God, during this season of Lent, take from our hearts the seeds of discontent. Weed from us those things that choke out your love. Lengthen our days of longing for you. Teach us to love and follow your ways. So be it. Amen.