...lent...

So Rachel  asked a few basic questions about Lent. What is it, when does it start, how do I get on board?  More later, when Lent starts (on Ash Wednesday – Feb 9), but a few preliminary thoughts.  This is just a very brief intro to the whole thing. 

I believe the goal of a follower of Jesus is to become like Him.  One of the ways that I as a fallen, mortal, very-much-imperfect person do this is through looking at my life and seeing how my life is different from his.  Lent is an ancient practice that is aimed at helping us become like Him.

Lent is a time of “Christian reality check”.  It is a season of “40 days” (sound familiar?) before Easter when we engage in prayer and fasting and self examination.  We should probably do these things all the time, but in Lent we call attention to these things.  Particularly the stuff about fasting and self examination.  We are the grand consumers in history.  We rarely do without.  I am self centred, self serving and consuming in so many ways.  Just look at my bank statements.  What can I do without?  If I really looked at my lifestyle, what hinders me in living more fully as a follower of Jesus?  What am I attached to that weighs me down?  And self examination – what are my temptations, my favourite sins?  what does my heart really look like?  And how do I play my part with God’s Spirit in becoming holy?  What in particular are Joe’s temptations in the wilderness?  And how do I cooperate with or grieve the Spirit in his work in my heart?

Part of this for me has been ‘spiritual direction’.  Finding someone “older and wiser” to help me look at my life with objective eyes.  I need an outside guide to point out the lay of the spiritual land. 

Comments

[Rachel]

Thanks Joe, that's awesome!