A Lenten journey

After doing a lot of reading about the Lent season I have decided to put aside my own evangelical misgivings and hesitations and pursue a season of penance and prayer this year from Ash Wednesday until Easter.

I have never done this before...this is a first for me and I will try to follow a lent calendar (any lent calendar) the best I can, trying to not become bound by an institutional schedule but rather trying to identify with Christ's own journey in the wilderness where he spent 40 days in prayer and fasting.

Also I hesitated posting about this at all, but the reason is to mostly encourage ALL of you to try doing this too, and also ask for suggestions and advice; when we deliberately try changing daily patterns of living, amazing things can happen. Some of the things you should consider doing this season are included in the calendar I linked to above. Here are some simple ideas I came up with:

- give up cigar smoking or food that I love for a while
- taking a lunch break from work by yourself to facilitate meditation
- eating simple meals instead of going out for elaborate meals
- spend half of your lunch hour praying, meditating or reading Scripture
- each day take a few minutes and pray for someone you really dislike or someone who hates you
- meditate on what the early church had sacrificed for the Gospel
- make a point each day to thank God for his Kingdom and his sovereignty
- identify a person who has injured you greatly and make a point to turn forgiveness over to God
- visit a place of solace in the nature and thank God for the awesome creation
- make a point to kneel on the ground before God; pickup a handful of dirt and remember your mortality and vain existence
- at last, also remember that you are God's own creation...important enough for Christ to die for; tell someone about God's grace and love. Share this with someone else too.

The great thing about this season is that you are free to create your own experience that may help you get closer to God.

Feel free to share your own advice, thoughts and experiences if you are comfortable. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


24 Feb, 2009 | Virgil
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Comments


by parker - 25 Feb, 2009 - 12:10:24
Glad to be journeying with you through Lent this year, Virgil.

In most languages, Lent's name is a derivative of the Latin term quadragesima or "the forty days." In the Bible, forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion, and preparation. Moses stayed on the mountain of God forty days (Ex. 24:18, 34:28). The spies were in the land forty days (Num. 13:25). Elijah traveled forty days before he reached the cave where he had his vision (1 Kgs. 19:8). Nineveh was given forty days to repent (Jonah 3:4). And, most significantly for our Lenten observance, Jesus spent forty days in wilderness praying and fasting prior to undertaking his ministry (Matt. 4:2). Thus it is fitting for Christians to imitate him with a forty-day period of prayer and fasting to prepare to celebrate the climax of Christ's ministry, Good Friday (the day of the crucifixion) and Easter Sunday (the day of the Resurrection).

Most individual Christian practices for Lent include both a denial of something (e.g., fasting, abstinence) and a taking on of something (creative simple acts of charity to neighbors, relatives, others).

Fasting or other dietary abstinence on Fridays is a nice tie-in with Good Friday, the day of our Lord's death.

Reflection on this Stations of the Cross meditation is worth a few moments (kids really like it, too): http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Bowl of Ashes on dinner table to remind us of repenting with "sackcloth and ashes" -- as we hear on Ash Wednesday, "Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."

Kids' practices include list of simple daily charity ideas. Kids can save quarters/dimes/nickels all Lent in a special box or jar and then donate the total amount to a charity of one's choosing at Easter.

General customs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Daily Reflection
http://www.americancatholic...

by Virgil - 25 Feb, 2009 - 13:26:45
Thanks for all the info Parker, it's helpful and the suggestions are great. I am glad we are on this journey together :)

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