Today was Ash Wednesday. I'm not catholic so that doesn't mean a whole lot to me.
However, in my heart I feel as though Lent should have a place in my life. But how? How do I work Lent into my non-denominatinal relationship with Christ? How do I make it so that it's not just something meaningless like giving up soda (which for some, might not be meaningless, but for myself, it would be.) I don't want to do something that will easily turn into a routine with no deeper connection with Christ. I don't want it to become legalistic. I want it to be a time where I am focusing my heart intently and intentionally on what Jesus did for me.
I think that it is important, especially for those who have grown up in the church, to take the things that we feel we know so well and to take a good, long, hard look and remind ourselves, no matter how many times I've heard it before, I still will not be able to fully comprehend or appreciate it this side of heaven. Growing up in the church I've heard it all before. And I find myself more and more tuning out in church when the pastor starts talking about something I already know. Just because I've heard it before doesn't make it any less holy.
After much internet researching and trying to figure out how other christians incorporate lent into their walk here is just a few recources that I found helpful.
Ann Voskamp reveals how she incorporates the forgivness we find due to Christ's death and resurection on their prayer bench- When Family Needs Fresh Start Making
Season of Dust- an article describing lent and the call that Christ gives His followers
The Upper Room Devotionals: This website gives you a devotional for each day. I especially love what their four goals for the lenten season are.
Refletions on Lent gives a much needed reminder on how and why we so joyously celebrate Easter. We tend to look at the happy ending but forget what Christ had to endure before the happy ending could occur.
The Challenge of the Lenten Season made me smile becuase I feel as though it was written just for me.
I believe that tomorrow I will head to the library and see if I can find any more books on lent. For now I will be partaking in the devotions from The Upper Room and trying to weave this foreign concept of lent into my every day walk with Christ.
Lent is almost over now, but I just found your blog. I hope you've learned great things this season! Daily devotionals are a great tool for focusing your mind and getting new perspectives. I am an Episcopalian and observe Lent every year, sometimes more successfully than others! These are the things that made the most impact on me:
ReplyDeletereading all 4 Gospels, Genesis, and Exodus (a few minutes each day) in 2001
giving up meat in 2002
giving up the snooze alarm in 2008.
This year my fast has been interesting, but what has really helped my spiritual growth is learning about two types of prayer I hadn't tried before: Centering Prayer and praying with beads. Now I have the beads in my coat pocket and pray with them as I walk to and from work every day. It is making such a huge difference!
I must admit, I've pretty much failed at lent this year. But, in a way, failing reminds me just how MUCH I NEED Christ and the sacrifice that He made. I am looking forward to reading your blog entries right now! :)
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