“Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent you asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.

Often called the Day of Ashes, Ash Wednesday starts Lent by focusing the Christian’s heart on repentance and prayer, usually through personal and communal confession.” https://www.christianity.com/church/church-life/what-is-ash-wednesday-why-do-christians-celebrate-it.html

It is customary for us to talk about what we are giving up for Lent. The giving up of something comes from the early church practice of fasting from all delicacies, eating only 2 small meals a day and no meat on Friday. All of this is tied in to Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness for 40 days (Matthew 4:11). 

As time has moved on, many of the ancient customs have evolved to meet the needs of modern Christians. Today, most of the traditions are observed in spirit more-so than in original practice. There is a strong leaning to make ancient practices relevant for present day. To that end, most main-line faith traditions (such as Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic…) continue to observe the practice of imposing ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday and observing some type of self-denial practices throughout Lent. 

The practice of “giving up” something can become meaningless if what we are giving up for 40 days does not have a lasting impact. In my experience over the years, being disciplined for 40 days has been meaningful—I have grown spiritually, deepened my faith, felt the presence of God more closely, listened to the Spirit more intently and have learned new things about myself. 

This year, instead of focusing on what I am “giving up” I am focusing on what I can take on—spiritual disciplines that can draw me closer to God that will (hopefully) continue long after the Lenten season. For the next 6 weeks I will share a weekly reflection with you focused on 6 of the spiritual disciplines taught by Richard Foster in his timeless treasure, “The Celebration of Discipline”: Confession, Study, Submission, Simplicity, Prayer and Worship. 

Join me on this spiritual journey of self-discovery, spiritual growth and joyful exploration of the intertwining of the spiritual and natural aspects of our being. 

Must Jesus bear the cross alone while all the world goes free? No there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me.