I was a college student the first time I observed Ash Wednesday. I attended a Lutheran college and I wanted to find out more about the belief system I had encountered. Plus, there were no classes and everything was closed during the service. So I found myself sitting in a service. I didn't plan on participating but the Truth of the service struck me so hard and I knew I had to go forward for the imposition of ashes.
And today begins my 15th year of Ash Wednesday observation.
I've been contemplating what needed to happen for me this Lent. And one thing was painfully clear. In this season of life, I've fallen painfully dependent on sugar (yes, sugar) to keep me going. What was a treat now and then has become something I loved too much. And then has become an addiction. I'm like an alcoholic going for the vanilla extract. Only I will scour the cupboards for sugar, found in baking chocolate squares, granola bars, or Reese's peanut butter cups left over from a party.
And what does that have to do with faith? Simple. You think about what you love. And my thoughts quickly wander to my next sugar fix. They don't so quickly wander to Jesus or His church. I might say these things are most important in my life. Lent is a time to reevaluate whether or not that is true.
2 comments:
i hear you. tv has become my latest time-suck and pleasure-bringer. and so it must go. at least for these forty days. i think i let a lot of things become distractions.
much perseverance and productive health to you!
I'm giving up fiction reading. I found myself yesterday evening after service wandering aimlessly around the house trying to figure out what to do with myself, because I didn't have the usually-mindless-entertainment of fantasy or sci-fi that I read. Kind of sobering.
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