Hey Canvas,
Lent starts today! As I grew up without the Lent Season being a huge part of my faith experience, I don't have much to share with you about its significance, not the personal value of sacrificing, denying yourself, or just flat giving something up. I imagine the significance is at some level related to the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness, the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, and the symbol these hold for us as we consider what it means to be dependent upon God. Often Lent is thought of in terms of fasting, or the thing one chooses to go without for a season. One of the best ways I've heard of thinking about Lent is this,
"What is it that we need to leave behind in order to be free, to be whole, to be fully alive and human?"
The season of Lent precedes Easter as humanity is invited to reflect on what it is that they might die to- put to death (leave behind), in order to embrace a full life. The leaving behind is the 40 days, and the embracing of the new life is celebrated on Easter Sunday, because as far as we know the tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive!
All of this to say, If you're like me and you didn't realize it was Lent Season till today, this is just a reminder. If you'd like to give something up as a way of leaving behind/ moving forward, as a means of more intentionally engaging your faith, or as a way of drawing close to God, we encourage you. Some of us will, some won't. There's no pressure or expectation. Jesus doesn't say to give something up for lent, and it's not one of the ten commandments, it's just an ancient rhythm that followers of Jesus have used to prepare themselves for the celebration of Easter.
Grace and Peace,
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