give it up

so, the Lenten season will be upon us this coming Weds and the question on the lips of a lot of believers is 'what am i gonna give up for Lent?' the items range from fried foods to alcohol to sweets to sex, and everything else in between, and whether one is a devout Catholic or a nondenominational Protestant, the Lenten season can be one of reflection and restoration as we await the celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

i've been struggling with what i am going to 'give up.' i want my sacrifice to be one devoid of fluff and truly one that it is going to indirectly cause me some 'suffering' and stretching of myself to be disciplined. i was talking to a friend earlier today as we mused over our Lenten offerings. we've committed to supporting each other through the process as we collectively give up nail-biting (a bad habit that we both share) and laziness...and, individually, sacrifice daily caffeine fixes and sleeping with the BB underneath the pillow. we discussed the fact that we want the sacrifice to be a representation of Christ's sacrifice for us, and not something that we'll just push to the side for 40 days, while replacing it (or the feeling it gives us) with something else.

listening to ppl lament about what they're giving up for Lent reminds me of the New Year's Resolutions that most of us make on Jan. 1st. The excitement of the New Year and new beginning inspires us to 'get our stuff together,' yet, truth be told, by February, we've likely fallen off the wagon, atleast on some things. it's hard to find that glue that makes it all stick, and bad habits are certainly hard to break.

no matter our belief systems, i hope that we will all look at the next 40 days (beginning feb. 25th on Ash Wednesday) as a time to discipline ourselves and maybe feel some pain as we muddle thru. whether it is givng up a favorite food, a technology addiction, or a nervous habit, i am certain that we all have some areas that, if we truly put our minds to it and forced ourselves to stay on the straight-and-narrow, we could overcome.

i told my friend today that i am not only giving up the nail-biting, but also devising a plan to 'fast' from certain attitudes and behaviors. for me, i want to spend the next 40 days fasting from pessimistic thoughts, living out worst-case-scenarios only in my work life as an underwriter and NOT in my personal life. i want to fast from worry, and instead, when i feel like worrying, praying. i want to fast from all of the doom-and-gloom that permeates the news these days, and instead focus on the many good things that are happening in the world.

and when i'm feeling a little weak, my plan is to lean on God and on my fasting partners, and they on me...with the hope that we'll emerge on the other side of the 40 days a little stronger, and little wiser....

and a little 'leaner' from the things that we gave up.