"So what are you giving up for lent?"

So what are you giving up for Lent?
Those words were ringing around in my mind and ears for the days before Ash Wednesday.

This is the first year I've attended and participated in an Ash Wednesday service and I was really excited. As a child, I'd see the kids that went to services on Ash Wednesday and think, "Wow, why can't I go to school with a dirty forehead?" Personally, I'm not sure if I thought of it as an opportunity to get out of school or a natural curiosity about diversity of faith - but I wanted to be involved either way.

In Lent, we think about our weaknesses, humanity and how Jesus was willing to give so much of himself for our sake. Lent is another part of the Easter story that I feel often is glazed over or replaced by our own human desire to improve ourselves.

"So, what are you giving up for lent?" the question looms over us like the barrage of new years resolutions from only six weeks ago. People give up sweets and fattening foods I think more for the hope that it will show up more in their waistlines than even considering the darkness of their own hearts.

I was thinking about my approach to lent the other day after my niece said to just give up chocolate, but giving up chocolate wasn't what I think it's about.

Lent to me is reflecting on who you are and plugging into God to assist in building or rebuilding something that that is weak or lacking in myself.

"So what am I trying to give up for lent?" Honestly, I'm trying to give up "negative self-talk" for lent". This has been a challenge for me for a long time and it goes in cycles. Oddly enough after deciding to retrain my mind, the negative talk seems louder than before- maybe I'm just paying attention to it more? I'm not sure, but the attention to grace gives me the idea that I need to give myself some grace in this 40-day journey as well.

Lent isn't focus on the negative, it's seeing things the way they are and imagining how God might work them out. Relying on God more, not less. Becoming more Christ-like is a journey that takes more that 40 days!

So whatever you given up for lent, think beyond the mere physical element of it. Think about the heart of the matter. What is the weakness, temptation, or thorn that prevents you from being or becoming more like Christ? That "thing" is the thing that we are required to give up to God on this 40 day journey. Don't try to carry the burden by yourself. Dare to go beyond things this lent and learn the balance of grace and honesty that God offers to each one of us - at the heart of the matter.

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

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