Some Take-Ups for Lent
Ash Wednesday begins the 40-Day Lenten season of faith and life. You may have been a part of a service where an ashen cross was marked on your forehead. That smudge is a holy reminder – from dust to dust – that our lives are sheer gifts from the mystery we call God.
Across the years, many have traditionally ‘given-up’ something for Lent – chocolate, certain beverages, television, and such. No problem with that. The intent is to pay closer attention to what we know about lives worth living and dying for fashioned in the serving pattern of Jesus.
Still, over time, I have come to appreciate the practice of not subtracting, but adding certain actions to our lives – hence, what I am calling Lenten Take-Ups.
Here are ten suggestions. Try some or all. Or come up with a couple of ‘take-ups’ of your own.
Begin/add to a Gratitude List each day big and little things you are thankful for. Maybe start with…grateful to wake up again today!
Call it Sweaty-Spirituality. We are inspirited bodies and embodied spirits. Add/continue daily exercise that helps you take care of God’s gift of your body. Pay attention to the miracle of your breathing…breathing is pretty amazing…try getting through a day…ten-minutes without it. When, stressed try some slow deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Increase your regular giving to a Ten Percent Tithe for Lent – or if already Tithing, try an increase of a Tithe of your Tithe. Generous giving beyond ourselves increase our care for others and helps us be better stewards/managers of the rest of what we have.
Contact: call, write, visit someone you need to thank – perhaps apologize to – for the first time or again. If no longer in this world, thank them in your heart, and show their goodness forward to someone.
Pray a Breath Prayer often during the days & nights of Lent.
The ancient one is:
+ Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Or choose a Bible Verse:
+ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
+ This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in
it.
+ Nothing in life or death can separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Or Custom fit one to your life, such as…
+ God help me listen more and talk less today.
+ God help me see the holy in the ordinary events of today.
+ Lord, help me be an instrument of your encouragement
today.
As you quietly repeat, let the words find their cadence in your breathing. Reflect on the meaning of particular words and the phrase as they seep into your life dimensions with God, others, yourself.
6. If you are not already, find a way to serve. Here are some examples of twenty or so ways listed within or beyond the church at https://www.canterburyumc.org/ From Service at the top, drop down to Outreach and Serve With Us.
7. Consciously move from an inner focus on ourselves to an outer focus on others. Pay extra attention to a neighbor, colleague, family member, someone you sense needs encouragement.
8. Read, pray, reflect during the days of Lent with the lovely Reclaim Holy Prayer Journal.
9. I learned about Generous Listening from my friend Kathleen. This is seeking to respond not react to what people are saying, to assume the best, not the worst intent in their words. A critical remark may mask care and concern for us. An irritable, edgy comment may reveal a need for assurance, someone going through a tough time.
10. Speaking of tough times, for a change, instead of faking it, ask someone for help when you need it.