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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Lent 2011

Sometimes Lent sneaks up on me. I mean let's be honest, I don't look forward with great anticipation to the sacrifice and penance that comes with this season. It's not fun. It's a reminder that I, and those I love, will perish and that suffering and death are very real things.

And so once again, I go through options in my head to answer the age old question, "What are you doing for Lent?" I could do something extra. I could give something up. I could do both. I should do both.

But more this year than any other, I think my attitude about the doing needs more attention than what the doing will actually be. I just wrote, I don't look forward with great anticipation to the sacrifice and penance that comes with this season.

Shame on me. Because I know that sacrifice and penance are the keys to my salvation and exactly the things that unite me with Christ most profoundly. What else can we do on earth that is like Him? 

Can I heal? 
Can I speak with great wisdom and revelation?
Can I walk on water or feed the multitudes?
Can I love perfectly and live without sin? 
No. 

But I can hunger. 
I can hurt. 
I can give.
I can pray.

I'm being asked to share in His humanity this Lent, because that's all I have to offer, it's all He really wants - and in this is my salvation! What's not to look forward to? So let my prayer, fasting, and almsgiving reflect the joy it is to be one of His and may they be done piously, humbly, and compassionately.

5 comments:

The Petrolias said...

Great post, Alisha! What a great reminder of WHY we do what we do during Lent. I'll be using this to help explain it to my girls!!

Kaitlin @ More Like Mary said...

I have never thought of it this way-thanks!

Lauren @ Magnify the Lord with Me said...

Got here through Kaitlin- what a beautiful post!! Love your take on being more Christ-like!

Bonnie said...

Alisha, I really liked this post. Thank you for the reminder of why we sacrifice.

I know what my sacrifice will be for Lent, but I hadn't decided on what I would DO. I think, though, after reading this, that I will try to do the first four things you listed. WE CAN DO THOSE THINGS! I think I will use my Lent to be praying that the Holy Spirit shows me how I can heal, speak with wisdom, feed the multitudes, lover perfectly, and live without sin.

I know that this isn't quite the point you were making, but I wanted to share with you how your post inspired me in a way you probably didn't see coming. Neither did I! :)

Jude and Alisha said...

Thanks for your encouragement, ladies. And please keep me and my attitude in your prayers this lent as you will be in mine.