I’ve never liked Lent.
As a kid, Catholics were the bunch who got to leave school early on Wednesdays to go to “CCD”, and did a criss-cross applesauce motion with their hands when they prayed, and had to eat fish on Fridays. The whys and whereof’s were a total mystery to the rest of us – the uninitiated.
As young adult it seemed like the thing to do to go with the flow so I half-heartedly tried giving up something for lent, choosing something like desserts that would serve me and my waistline as well as Jesus. It was all about trying to be as disciplined as Jesus, appear holy, and lose some weight.
This author said it well:
“Our practice of Lent has been too easily turned into a competition, a scaling of the spiritual ladder, proudly (even if silently) chuckling at those who too easily give up on the gym or the wagon.”
EMMY R. KEGLER
Also, as a 7 on the Enneagram, I have a built in excuse for being bad at “Lenting”. I’m all about joy and run from grief and sacrifice like Wile E. Coyote being chased by Road Runner.
But this is exactly why it’s important for me to pay attention to the experiences, reflection, and practices of Lent.
One way spiritual formation happens is when we pay attention with Jesus, to what makes us uncomfortable, and respond.
I truly believe what’s meaningful for one person in preparing for Easter, may not be fruitful for another. This is why, when I saw Sarah Bessey’s 40 Simple Practices for Lent, I thought, brilliant! But…
Though I love this idea and many of Sarah’s suggestions, not all of them resonate with me, so I took the ones that were meaningful and substituted my own where I wanted.
I have found it really drawing me to Jesus so far, but only as I don’t view it as a checklist, but instead, suggestions for focused reflection.
And you know what?? You could do this too!
I linked to Sarah’s list, and I’ll put mine below (remember, I’m using a bunch of her ideas – noted with *). But you can make your own list too.
Or just choose one or two things from the list! No legalism here. It’s between you and God.
Also, whatever you decide, I’m not going in order, but choosing each day one that feels right.
- Subscribe to a Lenten devotional or app (I’m doing the one from NCC )
- Choose to fast from speaking negatively about anyone or complaining for the day. Reflect on this fast.
- Pray for your enemies or those who have hurt you by name. Bless them as beloved children of God.*
- Read a contemporary book on suffering or loss such as A Grace Disguised (memoir), Shades of Light (fiction), or What Grieving People Wish You Knew About What Really Helps (nonfiction)
- Choose silence – no phone or internet.*
- Donate 40 things to charity.*
- Practice Sabbath. Worship. Power off. Do something that brings you joy.
- Repent. Read Amos 5*
- Look for light and beauty around you today. As you notice it, thank Jesus for the darkness, and ugly brutality He endured for you.
- Choose the discipline of secret service today. Bless someone anonymously. Don’t tell anyone.
- Write a prayer or blessing for your church staff. Drop it off with treats.
- Speak words of forgiveness out loud to yourself for that thing you’ve been holding onto for too long.*
- Light a candle and reflect on one word from Scripture for five minutes. Examples: mercy, forgiven, beloved.*
- At dinner, pray for persecuted Christians around the world.
- Plant a flower bulb. Take it to someone who needs hope in their darkness.
- Imagine God looking at you with infinite love, and tenderness, kindness and mercy.*
- Write out Matthew 11:28-30 and tape it to your mirror.*
- Read Psalm 139 from an unfamiliar translation like The Passion.
- Text someone who may feel lonely or unseen a word of encouragement.
- Do a biblical word study of “wilderness”
- Unfollow or mute 5 social media accounts that make you feel angry, afraid, or envious.*
- Give away 40 compliments or words of affirmation to strangers and friends.
- Write a thank you note to someone who has sacrificed for you.
- Read Ted Loder’s “I Praise You for this Resurrection Madness” from Guerrillas of Grace
- Do a prayer walk through your neighborhood.
- Listen to “See a Victory”. What does it mean to you personally that the battle belongs to the Lord? How does it impact you that you know the end of the story?
- Write a Psalm of Lament for injustice you or people you love have experienced.*
- Tip someone 40% ( a sacrifice)
- Say the breath prayer “Lord I can’t. You can.” as you picture those you’re praying for.
- Read Psalm 51 in 3 different versions.*
- Attend a Stations of the Cross service, or do a reflection on them (I’m using Remember Me, by Sharon Garlough Brown, but it is a sequel and won’t be as meaningful if you haven’t read Shades of Light first.)
- Repeat the Jesus prayer throughout the day: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner.” Consider using “beloved” in place of “sinner”.*
- Take dinner to a busy family with little kids. (These moms in particular are in a season of sacrifice for their family)
- Listen to Sara Groves’ song “We Wait”. Reflect on what it was like for the women around Jesus to wait through the Sabbath, doing nothing after He was crucified.
- Donate 40 canned goods to a food shelf.*
- Invite some friends over for dinner. Ask them to share a time when someone sacrificed for them.
- Go sit in an empty sanctuary and pray for all that will go on in that space.
- Choose a name for Jesus – Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, Bread of Life, Bridegroom… and look up Scripture to help you flesh out your understanding.
- Advocate for the oppressed. Check out IJM or World Vision.
- Use the practice of Lectio Divina (repeated reflective reading) with this verse: John 16:33.
What are you doing for Lent? Anything? Share what’s meaningful in the comments!
I’m over on Instagram if you want to come hang out! I’ll try to post some pictures of what this has looked like for me with the hashtag #whatlentlookslike.
