Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. While today happens to be my birthday, my celebration needs be a bit subdued because this is Lent. Yes, I know many of you do not celebrate Lent but it actually is an interesting tradition. If you did not have Lent, you would not have Mardi Gras.
Many who practice Lent base it on the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13). As we have seen in Haiti, folks do not live long without food and water. Fasting is defined as not eating food. If you decide to fast during Lent, PLEASE DRINK FLUIDS!
One of the common practices in
Lent is to give up something like sweets. In a way, a Lenten discipline is like
a New Year's resolution but easier. If you check your calendar, the
40 days of Lent
actually span 47 days.
The 7 extra days are Sundays. In
the Episcopal Church, Sunday is a day of holy celebration. As such, Lenten
disciplines are suspended for one day. Still, our services are more subdued
including sending the word alleluia
on vacation. My sons were fairly
successful keeping Lent because they looked forward to Sunday.
One of my more successful Lenten disciplines was turning off the radio in my truck during rush hour traffic. While this worked during Lent, I soon found my radio back on after Easter. After several Lents, I no longer turn my radio on in my car.
Personally, I have found keeping
Lent easier when I added something rather than trying to not to do something. Anyone
who has met me knows fasting is not high on my list. Reading daily meditation
books like A Life of Sacrifice
and adding more prayer time has proven
successful. You can get a copy of this book at the address below.
A project that brings you closer to the Father is always acceptable. One successful project I added was chasing down the triple conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter in Pisces as a possible Star of Bethlehem. Another was finishing the writing of my book in 1999.
I like to put my Lenten disciplines in terms of going on a journey. First, you must decide where to go. Next, you decide how you will get there. If your plan has small enough steps, you will reach your destination.
Are you ready to start this spiritual journey?
Grace and peace in the power of the Holy Spirit.
(J. Wesley McComb is a published author and a member of Christ Episcopal Church, 1534 7th St, Slidell, 643-4531.)
© by The Slidell Independent newspaper; originally published on February 18, 2010. Used by permission of publisher and author.