What are you going to do for Lent?

As I write, it’s Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

For many this is the last day for chocolate or alcohol before the long "fast" of the Lenten season. In the past few days I have heard more and more often people around me ask "what are you giving up for Lent?" or - in fewer cases "what are you taking on for Lent?"

So far, parishioners have been too polite to ask me, but I know it's coming...

So here goes: I am not big on desserts and my alcohol intake is limited to the occasional glass of wine on a Friday night, but my most precious commodity is time. I feel I never have enough: time for ministry, for family, for my prayer life, for me.

As I was reflecting on the reading from Deuteronomy (chapter 26, verses 1 to 11) appointed for the first Sunday in Lent, I came to the realization that when it comes to time I don’t always put “my heart and my treasure” in the same place (Matthew 6:21). If God is really the priority in my life, why isn't God receiving the “first fruit” of my time, the best part of it? It’s not that I don’t pray on a regular basis, but I am sorry to confess that my prayer life has become a little dry recently - a little repetitive and “routine”. God deserves better than that. God deserves the best I can give.

So this is what I am doing for Lent: I am being more mindful of how much time I set aside every day to foster my relationship with God. 

Theologian Brian McLaren says that “the amount of time you spend each day is less important than your faithfulness in prayer”; so I will make sure that I firm on my Lenten calendar 30 minutes a day to faithfully BE WITH GOD. I will read some scripture, journal a little, and then just be still and listen to the voice of God. I am also planning to learn by heart a few prayers I love. And I will not (you hear me?), I will not be distracted or sidetracked by anything! 

There, this is what I am doing for Lent: giving up some time and taking on some time, all at the same time…Boy, this is going to take some work.

Whatever you decide to do (or not do) for Lent, I hope that 40 days from now you will find yourselves in a different place in your spiritual journey, and readier than ever to celebrate the renewal of life that Easter brings.