46 days

 "Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer- through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and  self-denial- for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the death and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ"

i have never celebrated Lent. i have heard a lot about it- in my head it's linked with no chocolate, no caffeine, no alcohol... basically the word 'no' and Lent were synonymous around springtime. most people that i knew that celebrated Lent were of a religion i wasn't familiar with, and it was never something that had crossed my mind as something that i could do. or in all honest, would want to do.

Easter is my favorite holiday- if i'm honest, it's partly because of the colors, candy and sheer cuteness of it all, but for the most part, i love it because it celebrates what makes me free: Jesus not only died for me (and you) but He rose again. if i really stop to think about this, it's crazy-talk, kind of like being on an island that skips through time, inhabited by a murderous smoke monster. but the great part is that this outrageous story is real- and i know it. and i want to celebrate the God that has given it to me.

lately i've been wanting to hear His voice more. more loudly, more often, just more. i know it's there, but my life crowds it out- drowns the sound, busies my day so i don't have time to listen. what helps me remember Him, what remind me of who i define myself in, are those little moments where i stop and remember.

Lent is not a season of 'no', it's a season of sacrifice, of compromise- saying no to something for a short period, knowing you will get back something so much greater in return. i want to participate in the practice of  'giving something up' for Lent because it will be all those regular little moments that i stop to remember, plus all those other moments where i have to restrain myself and remember why. it's not just because i want to starve myself of something for 46 whole days with a big reward at the end- it's because i want to know, to experience, that every tme i want something, there is Someone who wanted me more.