The Lenten season began yesterday, and like last year, I find that my liturgy-longing heart beats a little faster though I know I won't find communion in my physical community of faith. What's a Southern Baptist to do? What a marvel to be able to join in a virtual community of believers in the observance of this holy season.
In preparation for Lent, I've been reading so much again this year. The reading that initiated the most powerful response within me was from my friend Kate Wicker. At Momopoly, she wrote Living Lent by the Beatitudes, and the practice of using Scripture to guide the Lenten sacrifice resonated so deeply within me.
(And I've written this line from that post on my heart: Humans need a Lenten season just as the Earth needs winter.)
Last year during Lent, I closed comments on SortaCrunchy and stopped looking at my stats. I cannot even begin to tell you the powerful change that wrought in my heart, in my attitude, and in my approach to blogging. I can say in all honesty it was one the best, most healthy things I've ever done.
What I learned from Lent last year was that the denial of something I enjoy (and, in fact, obsessed over) caused me to think about denial, self, and sacrifice every single day. I had never felt so utterly and absolutely prepared for Easter. Liturgists everywhere are thinking, "Wow. Good grasp on the obvious." Non-liturgists perhaps can relate.
So, back to Kate's post and using Scripture to guide this Lenten season . . .
I've been praying and seeking God as I've considered what my sacrifice would be this year. Last year, I knew almost immediately. This year, I haven't known so quickly and so certainly. It is something that has come upon me slowly. Perhaps something within my self knows the challenge this year will be far greater than last.
But here's what I've come to after much prayer and reflection.
For Lent, I am giving up complaining.
Do everything without complaining . . . Philippians 2:14
I just deleted three paragraphs of me expounding on my complaining problems. It comes down to this: I've fallen into the habit of complaining - loudly and often. I know it must hurt the heart of God. I am placing it on the alter of surrender.
But the thing about not doing something is it can sometimes cause you to think about it more. I don't want to walk around for the next forty days scolding myself "Don't complain! Nope! Don't you do it! Stop complaining. Don't you complain! Zip! Shut it!" If I am to dry the well of bitter complaint that seeps from my heart and mouth, I must replace it with something that opposes complaint.
So for Lent 2010,
"Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of His works with songs of joy" Psalm 107:22
A reader emailed following the Yet I Will post asking how to experience joy in the midst of darkness. I offered a few weak words (and a link to Ann who, to me, is the embodiment of a life lived towards joy), but I really want to walk that out in the next forty days. Now listen, the rocky path my feet are on is nothing unusual and only that which is common to man. Hard times to keep my heart soft towards my heavenly home. That's all. But if I am not careful, complaint will crowd out joy.
So I choose it. I choose Joy.
Here's how I envision it for this season:
1) Again, I don't have a physical community to hold me accountable to a Lenten sacrifice, so I'm asking you to shoulder that burden. I'll post daily something related to joy either here or at Megspots (which I am re-purposing to turn into a personal blog/record of our days).
Sometimes comments will be open, sometimes not.
2) I'll post each day except for Sunday, and on Sundays, I'll be fasting from the computer entirely.
3) I will continue to post other content as well. Those are the days you'll find a 40 Days of Joy post at Megspots. I have an exciting development in the works regarding the content at SortaCrunchy that I'll be revealing next month and there will just be other business as usual. But daily, I will be public in my pursuit of joy.
Oh! One last thing. See that purple bracelet in the picture above? Each day, I'll wear something purple (the color of Lent) to remind me of the surrender of complaint and the sacrifice of praise.
Here are some helpful links:
Christianity Today: Lent - Why Bother?
Karen Edmisten: A Meaningful Lent: The Monstrously Long Post (CHOCK FULL of family-geared Lent ideas)
And speaking of family - the free download I linked to last year with Lent Activities for the Family is still available (free!). It is written for Lent 2009, but the activities and ideas aren't date specific.
Finally, via Emily, be sure to check out Modern Sacred Family for ideas on how to live out the liturgical calendar as a family. Beautiful.
