Wednesday Wonder

Coming to you on a Thursday

There was some talk at the Council meeting last night that this week it should be Thursday Thunder instead of Wednesday Wonder. However, I did get this written before going to bed Wednesday, so sticking with the Wonder.

Lent is almost here. Only a week away. Before the Council meeting there was much laughter and discussion about what people were going to give up for Lent this year. I said egg salad sandwiches, someone else said Brussels sprouts or veggies in general, you get the idea. Let’s give up things we don’t care for to begin with as that will make it easy.

It isn’t supposed to be easy! If it is so easy you don’t have to think about it, then what’s the point? The whole idea of fasting during Lent was about being conscious of what you were doing and to be bringing yourself closer to God.

Lent is the time to reflect, repent (turn around), and renew your relationship with God. It may also help you renew relationships with yourself and others.

Originally, the 46 days of Lent meant fasting. Fasting from eating during the week and then celebrating each Sunday as a ‘little Easter’ and feasting. This meant 40 days of fasting during Lent. So, our Pancake Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) was to clean out the pantry and feast before beginning your fast.

Over the years it, at least in the Protestant church, became a much more symbolic time of fasting, if we fast at all. Honestly, I love food far too much to actually stop eating for six days at a time. I have trouble when I can’t eat for a day to prep for some medical procedure. It does however, give me time to consider my relationship with food, but that is probably a whole other Wednesday Wonder, or maybe best left for an appointment with my therapist.

For me, as I prepare for Lent, I often think about taking up now instead of giving up. For decades I gave up things like chocolate or tv watching (for some reason my parents would not support me giving up homework) but on Easter Sunday I would be ever so grateful for the stash of chocolate the Easter Bunny had left and just try to get the remote away from me for the day. I hadn’t spent time considering my relationship with God, self and others. I had spent 46 days whining about no chocolate or tv. Not quite what the whole fasting thing was supposed to be about.

Now, while I might choose to give up something, usually I try to take something up. Some sort of spiritual practice, or some activity that gives me time to focus on my relationship with God. Usually something that cuts the ‘noise’ of everyday life so I can hear God more clearly.

Over the years, my prayer life has improved, my meditation is getting better, my journalling has become more regular and useful. All examples of things I took up during Lent that stayed with me. Doesn’t matter what it is as long as it helps me quiet my heart and mind and refocus on my relationship with God.

This year, while I am not quite sure what I will take up yet, I am thinking about using my knitting as a spiritual practice. Not doing it while watching tv or listening to an audiobook, as I often do, but in a more intentional way of dialoguing with God. Yes, making a prayer shawl is similar, but this time I won’t be praying for another. This time, I will be having a true conversation with God. Which is, in essence, what prayer is all about. It is dialogue. Often, we spend time speaking our prayers, but we forget to leave space for God’s part of the conversation. Every other row becomes God’s space to talk. Or something like that. We shall see. By next week, I may have changed my mind and found something else I want to try.

If you are wondering about the fasting part of all this ‘taking up’ of something. Remember, anytime you are intentional about taking up something new, it usually means giving up something else to make room. Taking up instead of giving up has a much more positive energy for me and I am more likely to follow through. Besides, I already stopped eating junk food at the start of the month. Just because I wanted to see if it helped me feel better. So, taking up for Lent this year is the plan.

Stay tuned. I will let you know what I finally settle on. And I would love to hear what you decide to do too.

Let’s find ways to truly focus and refocus our relationship with God, self and others this Lent.