Devotional 3-8-12

A MEANINGFUL LENT

Perhaps you have heard the old yarn about the Irishman named Jack and Lent. Jack was a hard worker who always put in a full day’s labor, day in and day out. Jack was also a fellow who, at the end of each work day, believed in treating himself to a stop at a local pub on his way home. Jack’s stops at that pub became a much discussed matter of local lure because Jack always requested that the bartender pour three mugs of beer at one time and set all three drafts on the bar right in front of him. Thereupon, Jack would slowly and rather ceremoniously drink randomly from all three mugs until there was not a drop left in any of the three. At that point he would bid everyone good night and walk home. One evening the bartender’s curiosity could no longer be contained, and he asked Jack why the beers were all drawn at once and consumed in random sips from the three mugs. Jack told his friend that the first mug poured was for him and the other two were for his brothers, one of whom now lived in America, while the other lived in Australia. Since their parting they had all agreed to perform this ritual no matter where each one was as a way of insuring that their relationship would remain connected. Satisfied with that explanation, the barman went back to tending his business. One Wednesday evening in late February, Jack walked into the pub and ordered just two beers. A hush came over the entire room. In a knowing manner the bartender solemnly stepped forward and said that he was sorry to learn that one of Jack’s brothers had died. Jack responded as he sat down to enjoy the two beers, “both brothers are alive and good health ... I’ve just gone to two beers because I’ve given up drinking beer for Lent”.

What is a meaningful Lent? How does one go about living during these 40 days that leaves one feeling fulfilled at the end of the sacred time frame? Since I already pray, do I pray more? Since I already attend Sunday School and Church, am I expected to attend 2 services each Sunday? Since I already read the Bible once a day, do I step it up to twice a day? Since I already contribute financially to my Church and few other social service entities, am I to double what I give during Lent? One of the answers to these questions is that there are too many I’s in this paragraph. Lent is not about us: Lent is about God and our opening ourselves up to a deeper experience of Him across the 40 day period. Lent is preparation for Holy Week. Lent ends where our salvation as Christians begins ... with a cross, an empty tomb and a risen Lord.

So, to participate earnestly in Lent means that work each of the 40 days to remove all the impediments which we build on a daily basis to separate us from God and keeps us from bathing fully in His grace. Ultimately, if the comforts we give up during Lent and the additional tasks of stewardship which we take on during the same period are not undertaken in the spirit repentance, we’ve missed the whole point of the Lenten experience. The simple truth is we are not meant to feel fulfilled at the end of Lent: we are expected to feel spent, tired and a little cranky because we humans can never get good enough at accepting our limitations and appreciating God’s unending grace. Fulfillment for us is not to be found in how we spend our time during Lent, but in how completely we rejoice on Easter morning.

Tom Craig