My Lenten Journey

I have decided that I am going to blog my journey of discovery during Lent this year. The model that I am going to use for my blogging is called "Journey to Hope," and it is available from the General Board of Discipleship Website of the United Methodist Church - www. gbod.org.

First, a few things regarding Lent from that fount of information, Wikipedia.

When does Lent begin?
Lent begins 40 days prior to Easter (not counting Sundays). The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. The 40 days is significant, as it commemorates the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert and the 40 years the Israelites spent roaming in the desert prior to entering the Holy Land. Since Sundays are a time of celebration representing the resurrection in Christianity, they are not included in the 40 days.

When does Lent end?
Lent Ends the day before Easter Sunday, also known as Holy Saturday. Palm Sunday marks the last week of Lent and commemorates the day Jesus entered Jerusalem to people laying palms at his feet. However, Roman Catholics end Lent at sundown on Holy Thursday when the Mass of the Lord's Supper begins.

How is Lent celebrated?
Two things occur during Lent - fasting and prayer. It used to be that fasting was the giving up of food, but today many Christians give up other items such as television or the Internet. Orthodox Christians give up both meat and dairy products during Lent. The fasting is used to remind Christians of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert fasting and being tempted by Satan.

Thanks, Wikipedia...

So, Lent is really a time for us to journey back to God by getting rid of all of the stuff that weighs us down – sin, sadness, strife, heartbreak, anger, hate, inadequacy, fear – and replacing those things with things that enrich our souls.

What are those things which enrich our souls – that bring our souls closer to God? Right now, I'm not 100% sure. Those answers come from this Lenten journey of self-discovery that I hope to undertake in these next 40-plus days.

As I understand it, then, Lent is a time where we give up something we feel is necessary in our lives, but really isn't. The absence of this thing creates a desire, a want, a hole, if you will. We should then fill this hole created by the absence of a worldy comfort with something that is of or from God - i.e. scripture reading, prayer, doing a "good work," etc.

So - what am I going to give up? We're five days into Lent already and I haven't truly decided. Here's how I think it's going to go. I'm going to try and give up lunch. I did that last year and was reasonably successful with it, in that I did not eat my noon meal much, if at all, throughout Lent. But, in the end, my "sacrifice" wasn't really about coming closer to God, it was about me being too chubby and using Lent as an excuse to go on a "God-sponsored diet." I hope that it's not about that this year. To try and ensure the fidelity of my Lenten experience, I need to make sure to fill the hole that I've created with Godly things. So, during the time I would normally take for lunch, I am going to spend time reading the Bible, reading devotionals, reading things that others are doing during Lent, praying and, at least on occasion, writing on this blog.

Dear God, please be with me during these 40+ days of Lent. May I come closer to you by removing myself, if only a small bit, from the ways of the world. May I come to a better understanding of who am I through you, and may I come closer to understanding and accomplishing the ultimate mission you have for me on this earth, whatever it may be. Thank you for loving me and thank you for the blessings you have allowed to come into my life. May this Lenten time be a blessing to you as well as to me. AMEN.