And like a good evangelical, I’m wasn’t sure what to do with it.
Years ago, as a twentysomething and in college, which means I was meeting all sorts of folks, from all walks in church denominations, I attempted to do Lent. When I say attempt I mean I gave up something… can’t remember it now, but I do know I failed. I was a Lenten drop-out. Wasn’t able to go 40 days without that certain whatever it was I felt would be good to sacrifice.
As far as I can tell, evangelicals don’t go in for a proper Lenten season. We go from Christmas to Easter Sunday with maybe a New Year’s Eve midnight service in between.
I haven’t thought about Lent in years, happily approaching my spring with just Good Friday and Easter on my calendar. My deep thought of the approaching holy days would be to wonder if the egg hunt would be rained out.
Scrolling through the High Calling Blog’s RSS feed recently, I found an open invitation by Christine Sine of the Godspace blog to journey toward the Cross by observing Lent.
Journey toward the Cross. I liked that. I love the word picture there. Journey. Cross.
Plus, I love Christine’s blog header. And Christine lives in Seattle. I love Seattle (remind me to write a post about my Seattle lovefest and God-moment at the top of the Space Needle.)
Yeah, it didn’t take me long to decide this challenge would be in my best spiritual interest. I signed up, downloaded the booklet of exactly how this was going to work (which is great – because don’t forget – I’m an evangelical and I have no idea what I’m doing.)
Lent A journey toward the Cross starts Wednesday. Anyone else in the God blogosphere willing to walk with us? Here is the link at Godspace. Hope you join in!
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Friends, one of the good things about belonging to a community of bloggers is that I’m constantly reading thoughts by people I wouldn’t normally meet as a homeschooling mom in New Jersey who only ventures to the Other Side (Catholic and Episcopal) for weddings and funerals. I (heart) High Calling Blogs.
I just downloaded a Lent for the family ebook from CurrClick. I haven’t figured out what to do with it, yet. But hopefully I will have some time today. Thanks for the push
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I love blogging for much the same reason. I love seeing how we are all so much alike and yet so different. It has definitely been a wonderful experience!
Alicia, The Snowflakes last blog post..A Tag Cloud
Hi Monica. I went to an Anglican church for a while and celebrated Lent as part of my time there. Lent was a lot of things for me, mostly good, sometimes hard, sometimes just blah, but I have a deep respect for it. Blessings to you this season.
I’ll follow that link and check it out.
Ok, so you know I’m Catholic, Monica – I’m no expert (oh dear please) but I can tell you how I look at Lent on a personal level.
It is really a journey to the cross, which is one of the reasons why we Catholics pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent (usually after Friday’s Fish Fry at Church – hey, you’re already here so let’s pray!). If you go into any Catholic Church, you’ll see the 14 Stations on the walls; you literally walk around to each one and spend time contemplating and praying about that moment in Our Lord’s journey to Calvery. It’s deeply moving and powerful.
The whole giving up something for Lent? Well, part of it is just the idea of sacrificing something you value as a way of remembering Our Lord’s sacrifice. And – for me at least – whenever I find myself wanting whatever I gave up (I always give up ALL sweets during Lent), it gives me a moment to pause and remember and pray.
My $0.02! I’m off to check out the link – take care, Coffee Queen (note that I NEVER give up coffee for Lent – too necessary for functioning around here!).
Mariannes last blog post..Finding the Calm