Giving Up or Opening Up?

Lent is fast approaching.  The Ashes will be applied tomorrow to furrowed brows and upturned faces alike.  A question to ask might be, "What are you giving up for Lent?"  Chocolate?  Wine?  Gossip?  Will it be a sacrifice?  Will you really miss it? Will it take discipline on your part?  If you give something up will it be something that causes you to think about Jesus every time you turn to grab for it?  Will it be a source of discussion around the proverbial water cooler?  "I gave up pizza for Lent!"  or "I gave up red meat for Lent."

There's nothing wrong with giving something up IF it helps us to focus our attention on Christ; but if it is just an exercise done out of guilt (or even indifference) then why do it at all?  If it is just something that you were taught to do when you were a kid and so you keep doing it without intention or purpose then doesn't that leave you feeling empty, or worse- guilty?

Instead of giving up something why not open up?  Open up our hearts to be more like Christ. Open up our spirits to the Spirit's working within us and around us.  Open up our mouths to sing God's praises and to proclaim the goodness of our God who sent his one and only Son to save us from sin, death and the power of the devil.  Now there's an interesting conversation to engage in on your lunch break!!

Rather than focusing on taking something away how about adding something?  Not something that will cause you to feel bad if you forget to do it one day. . . that's not the purpose (we really don't need anything else to make us feel bad about ourselves!!)

What if we opened up our lives to Christ in order to enhance our daily walk?  What if we were intentional about spending quality time with our loved ones- in conversation, in play, in prayer?  What if we carved out time for our friends, to reconnect, to laugh, to have a little bit of fun amidst the daily grind?  That would be holy wouldn't it??  (My answer is YES!)

Here are a couple of other ideas to help you focus on Christ in this time of Lent:
Set aside a time of centered prayer.
Make a habit of doing a daily devotion?  (Then share it with a friend!)
Make a special offering to the poor and hungry.
Take an extra walk around the block so that our bodies will be healthier (spiritual well being is a whole body/mind/spirit experience).

The reality of the Lenten season is that God is right here with us-- it's a time for us to notice that in ever deeper ways and to respond with gratitude to all the blessings of this life that God has gifted us with-- especially the gift of a Savior.  It's a time to renew our baptismal promises and to bask in the gift of our being daily forgiven.  It is not a time to beat ourselves up, to put more pressure on ourselves; instead it is a time to be gentle with ourselves because this journey is NOT an easy one.  Lent (and a life of faith for that matter) are not for the faint of heart!

Open up those fingers, then, that are so tightly clutching to whatever it is that is holding your attention and instead allow Christ to fill your hands and your heart with his mercy and love.  Amen.