Lentent Season

When I began to practice Lent intentionally I was in high school. A good friend of mine was Catholic and I admired her dedication in discipline. But I would say that I didn't really, at that time, understand the possibility of Lent.

Going off to college I dropped Lent as soon as I didn't have my friends discipline as a role model. I got back into the practice of Lent the same year that I came back to the church (of non-denominational Protestant theology.)

my understanding of Lent was radically changed at that moment. Before, I saw Lent as a period of ritualized abstenance in order to prove your endurance for God's love. Under my new pastor I started to see Lent as a dedicated time of prayerful practice to grow our relationships with God. The rules and restrictions became less about divesting oneself of worldly pleasure and more about making space in one's life, mind, and soul to cultivate new connections with God.

Now my Lentent promises to God rarely have anything to do with restriction or abstenance. I prefer to try and cultivate a relationship of abundance with God. And to that end this year it is my intent to focus on securing my body/temple by intentionally shifting my relationship to food. Food is one of my demons, one that I often feel powerless to overcome.

But the great thing about the Lentent season is that I can turnover my demons to God. Through prayerful practice I can open a space in my life for God to transform my relationship with food.

What program I will use to try to facilitate this connection is still undetermined. But I'm not too worried. It will come to me. And besides to me it's not about a program (yet) it's declaring intention.

Do you celebrate Lent? What will be your prayerful practice over the next few months?

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