Beech Tree News Network

Lent began Wednesday, February 14, and will end Saturday, March 31. Although it is not mandatory, many Christians choose to give up something or add something positive in their lives to show devotion or respect for God and to make themselves spiritually stronger. And people’s Lent choices vary greatly.

According to Wikipedia, “Lent is a solemn religious observance … that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, before Easter Sunday….This event is observed in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, and Catholic Churches. Some Anabaptist and evangelical churches also observe the Lenten season. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the tradition and events of the New Testament beginning on Palm Sunday, further climaxing on Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, which ultimately culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent). Lent activities are simply efforts to draw closer to God.

 Wondering what my friends and family would choose to give up for Lent, I asked: “If you gave up or were to give up something for Lent, what is it or would it be?” Their responses were:

• ·       If I gave up something, it would have to be sweets.

• ·       Social media. It takes up too much time. I have limited myself but have never given it up completely for very long.

• ·       Social media.

• ·       Last year we studied what not to give up but what to include in our lives to help people. I really tried to incorporate this. Instead of giving up something bad, I was able to do something for someone most days.

• ·       Saying unkind remarks about people.

• ·       Sweets after dinner.

• ·       I didn’t do it, but my friend gave up Coke.

• ·       Maybe my phone.

• ·       My ascetic lifestyle.

• ·       Artificial sweeteners. I use too much.

• ·       The thing that I would give up would be sodas.

• ·       Sloth.

• ·       Coffee is something that I really enjoy. When I fast, it’s usually coffee that I give up. I need to do this more often.

• ·       Sodas probably.

• ·       Television.

• ·       I would give up saying the word “friggin” or “freakin” because I’ve gotten in the habit of saying it since my friends do, and it bothers me that I say it.

·       I have been observing Lent for 18 years and have given up everything from caffeine to chocolate to 10 minutes of sleep for an extra devotional. Every time I want whatever I have sacrificed during these 40 days, it reminds me of Jesus, and I am closer to God by the time Easter arrives. This year I have given up talking negatively about others.

 Why do people choose to change their activities during Lent? In 2013, blogger Megan Cottrell wrote, “I may not be Catholic anymore, but I am going to go back to my roots this year and give up something for Lent. It’s not really a sacrifice, but it will be hard. At the end of it, I believe it will have changed me. But how? I’m not sure. I’ve got to give it up to find out” (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-cottrell/why-do-we-give-things-up-_...). Lent is a preparation window for celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And I hope you can make time to enjoy this holy season.