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Wednesday, 25 February 2009 |
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Follows need to focus on the real reasons for Lent
Today is the first day of Lent.
I’ve actually never celebrated Lent before and none of the churches I ever attended celebrated it either.
Often I’ve questioned why I never grew up celebrating Lent and I’ve realized the answer probably lies in the fact that most churches I’ve been a member of over the years are considered non-denominational.
One of the goals of non-denominational churches is to eliminate legalism and the emphasis on traditions that can turn into religious endeavors rather than affairs of the heart.
That’s not to say that Lent is a bad thing. I think Lent is an amazing, admirable experience.
What would be
the bad thing is how some people see Lent as a thing they have to
do—that’s legalism—and check their box upon completion—making it a
religious endeavor with no focus on the heart whatsoever.
Lent is a 40-day fast where one gives up something until Easter.
For my cousins, it was usually candy, chocolate or sodas.
The 40 days of Lent typically signify the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert facing temptation from Satan while fasting.
But which his more significant: The length of Lent or the meaning?
Fasting is used
in many religions as a way for followers to truly focus on God in
prayer, often depriving themselves of food as the most common form of
fasting.
Instead of the time you’d spend eating those meals, one would spend time praying and meditating.
I don’t know
about how you may handle Lent, but my cousins never really prayed or
thought about God while complaining about not being allowed to have
candy or even sneaking bites behind their parents’ backs.
To them, it was something they had to do and the meaning was completely lost to them.
I know friends who fast randomly throughout the year to refocus their hearts on God.
Sometimes it’s
for a week, sometimes longer. I’ve known adults who decide to fast
lunch so they can pray during their break at work.
When and what you fast does not matter. It’s how you fast in regards to your heart that makes the difference.
This year, don’t
see Lent as another ritualistic thing to do. Try to refocus your heart
on God or explore the real meaning behind the establishment of this
tradition.
And if you find
it too hard to truly focus on the real reason behind Lent, give up Lent
itself. It is better to fast when no one is fasting and get something
genuine from it than to fast just because everyone else does with no
regard to God whatsoever.
Don’t make a
mockery of your faith or God. Do it whole-heartedly, or be humble
enough to set your pride aside and wait for your heart to be in the
right place before engaging with God in such an intimate, spiritual way.
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