Here Comes Lent
Some help and resources for this season
About a week ago I started reducing the amount of sugar I was putting in my coffee and tea. This happened one day when I drank two extra cups of tea in the morning in addition to my usual two coffees. I usually put in a teaspoon of sugar in each drink, and that morning I had counted up five teaspoons when I included the sugar added to my oatmeal. As the level in the sugar bowl had gone noticeably down, I thought, “whew, that was a lot.”
Then, a few days ago I just stopped putting sugar in my tea and coffee. I didn’t miss it too much. I’m keeping my cream or milk. I don’t know if I was just anticipating giving something up for Lent, or if the change will be permanent, but as I was making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, my wife asked, “what are you giving up for Lent this year.”
I said, “I’m not going to put sugar in my tea or coffee, except I kind of already stopped doing that a few days ago.”
She reminded me of what I have taught in the past about the practice of “giving up something good.” One way of thinking about giving something up is to pick something that you truly enjoy (e.g. chocolate) and go with out it, so that when Easter arrives you can have it again (e.g. chocolate!) and appreciate it or enjoy it all the more.
But I don’t think that’s what my sugar experience is. I don’t think I will suddenly make a double-double order at Timmies on Easter Sunday (for any non-Canadians reading, that’s 2 cream and 2 sugar in a coffee at the Canadian classic coffee shop, Tim Horton’s).
Yes, giving up something good for Lent can be a wonderful practice. So can giving up something that you hope to leave behind permanently. So can taking up a new practice for a season or with the hope of it taking hold more permanently.
So, for my sugar in my coffee/tea - we will see. There are so many ways to mark Lent, some of which include giving something up, or starting some new practice. There are some amazing resources and helps to mark this season and I thought I’d point a few out for anyone who might be looking for a bit of help for their Lent.
Tsh Oxenreider provides what she calls A Simple Guide to Lent. She beautifully walks you through what Lent is, explaining things simply. But this not-that-long post is surprisingly comprehensive and worth taking a look at.
St. Andrew’s Hall (Canadian and Presbyterian) continues to produce a fantastic Lent devotional where each devotional is written by different people. This is perfect if you want a free PDF with scripture and a short reflection for each day. Simply and straightforward.
A Rocha is an awesome organization whose mission is all around Creation Care. Two things from their Manitoba chapter: 1. A super simple practice of going outside for ten minutes a day to notice what God brings in your path. Read their post on this - it is a great reflection. 2. If you live in Winnipeg, Winnipeg’s Lost Creeks - a Lenten Journey is very cool. It maps out a walk for each week connected to different creeks that are no longer there, and provides prayers to accompany them. Why during lent? Because Lent is a time to lament, and the focus is on lamenting the loss of natural waterways. This is a creation-focussed way to mark this season.
Kate Bowler is posting daily during Lent and her posts are helpful, delightful, and profound. Added bonus that she is also from Winnipeg.
Hope one of these catches your eye or captures your heart. Is there anything you are giving up? Is there some practice you will take up? Some resource you’ve found helpful? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks Matt. These are some good suggestions. It was timely as someone asked me for Lenten resources yesterday, and I said I have just the post for you! I find the gymnastics that people do to get around fasting are fascinating to me; we don't have to overcomplicate things - what is getting in the way of your attention to the cross? See if you can get some discipline over it; the only thing to add is grace, don't beat yourself up if you don't do it perfectly.