MY ASHEN HEART

Believe it or not, this is the first year of my life that I have cared enough to figure this whole “lent” thing out. Growing up I had many friends who participated in Lent and would tell me how lucky I am that I didn’t have to give anything up. That attitude stuck with me through my childhood. “I’m lucky.”

What I didn’t realize then is how lucky…no…blessed I truly am, not because I don’t “have to” give something up, but because of what was given for me. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’. God gave His son for ME! To save ME! Jesus died on that cross and rose again for ME!

A month back, I mentioned to one of my co-workers, who does partake in Lent that I really don’t know all that much about it other than it is the season leading up to Easter. I didn’t know the purposes of the ashes and not eating meat and other rituals that go along with it. He gave me a non-denominational 40 day journey journal, which he said should help me in my quest for information.

I had already decided that I would be giving something up this year, not out of duty, or because my church tells me that I have to, but out of admiration and adoration for the One who was, is and always will be. Then yesterday I read my Pastor’s blog and oddly enough, he addressed this very thing. Why do we not partake in Lent? He answered this question eloquently and intelligently as always, but then he included a letter from one of our community group leaders suggesting that during this season, we should all fast something, whether it be food, TV, our own attitude; basically we should fast what is keeping us from having a closer relationship with our Creator.

BINGO! Once again, God plants a seed in my mind which is later confirmed by the masses. I love that this year I made a decision and now my church as a whole is making the same decision. To me, it is not about a ritual, a tradition, or being told, “you must do this.” To me, it is like anything else having to do with your personal relationship with Christ, it is a decision of the heart between me and my Lord.

So, while I will be choosing to delete something from my life, and to add more God time, you will not see me scrambling to get in line at Long John Silvers on Friday’s, nor will you see an ashen cross on my forehead today. That ashen cross resides in my heart and has a permanent place there. I will seek restoration, repentance and healing during not only this season, but for every season of my life.