... the forty days before Easter. Lent excludes Sundays because every Sunday is like a little Easter. Basically, it's about one-tenth of a year (like a tithe of time).What does Lent have to do with me?
It's pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of work, school, relationships, and family. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol or other things.
We run from silence because we're afraid of being alone with God. So, like Jesus, we need to take some serious time to pray and figure out where God is in our lives, and where God is calling us to serve. We need to re-focus our lives to be more in line with God.
COOL THINGS TO DO FOR LENT:
- Skip one meal a day and give the money to the poor
- Start a prayer "rhythm." Say a prayer every time you brush your teeth, see a commercial, or check your e-mail
- Read a chapter in the Bible a day. (Matthew is a good book to start with)
- Forgive someone who doesn't deserve it (maybe even yourself)
- Give up beer or sodas. Give the money you save to the Red Cross
- Spend thirty minutes a day in silence
- Write someone a thank you letter
- Say one nice thing to someone each day
- Pray for others on your way to work or school
- Volunteer one afternoon a week at a local shelter, tutoring program or Habitat for Humanity
Originally published by author Penny Ford, United Methodist campus minister at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Link: http://www.upperroom.org/methodx/thelife/articles/lent101.asp
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