As I've mentioned before, my husband is Catholic and I grew up Southern Baptist. Therefore, I didn't even become aware that such a thing as Lent existed until I was already out of high school. So it wasn't part of my upbringing. This is all new. It's even new for my church (which is part of the Evangelical Presbyterian denomination) where this is the first year there has been an Ash Wednesday service and any talk of Lent.

For anyone else who is unfamiliar with it, the season of Lent is a time of preparation. This preparation normally includes extra prayer and fasting and choosing something to give up for the 40-day duration from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday.

Technically it's 46 days, not just 40. Some people count Sundays, and some people don't. I personally think it's a bit sneaky to count Sundays as mini-Easters where you don't have to observe giving up whatever it was you gave up. But I won't be offended if you disagree with me on that. Whatever works for you. Observation of Lent is another one of those non-essentials for me. Practice it or don't. Salvation doesn't depend upon it. But I have come to decide that it is helpful.

It is helpful because it is not just about giving something up as I initially thought when I first heard of it. I couldn't see any benefit from simply giving something up unless it was the benefit of a smaller waistline from giving up something like chocolate or soda. I now realize, the point is really to replace whatever you gave up with more focus on God.

I gave up Facebook this year because it was eating up A LOT of my time. With that extra time, I have been able to double the amount of Bible study I do each day and to co-found this blog. I started following a schedule to read the Bible through starting mid-February, and by doubling up, I'll be back on track by Easter as if I had started January 1st.

At first, I thought my choice to give up something like Facebook might be silly, but I now think the best things to give up for Lent must be the things that take up too much of your time. I'm still unsure how giving up food helps. It is a sacrifice if you choose the right thing, and I guess you would think of God every time you want something and don't eat it.

We've observed the Catholic tradition of no meat on Fridays this year, and I don't really feel like I've gotten anything spiritual out of that. It's been more of an excuse to have shrimp and sushi and pasta. I must be missing the point on that one.

Our church is asking us to fast from food between the Good Friday service around 6 pm through breakfast Easter morning. I've got to say, I love food, and that's not going to be an easy thing for me. I have enough trouble just sticking to my Weight Watchers points. I can't decide what we're going to do about the fasting challenge yet. If we wind up at Graham's grandparents house this weekend, spending a day and a half without food may just be an impossibility. If we stay home, it's much more likely. If I commit to it, I'll do it. I just can't decide what exactly I want to commit to.

I've been trying to figure out what fasting means to different people. I don't know that the same rules will apply, that I'll be able to replace thoughts of food with thoughts of God the way I replaced Facebook. I've had some suggest a juice fast where there is no food at all only juice or a fruit and veggie fast where of course it's only fruits and veggies. Our Hindu friends often fast by limiting themselves to one small meal a day. I got the impression they thought it was cute that we fast from meat one day a week. I think they saw it the same way I do. Is one day a week without meat really a sacrifice, especially if you can still have seafood? Of course, they often fast for multiple days so going without at all wouldn't be practical.

Discussion Starters:

1. Do you feel that observing Lent and giving something up for 40 days is a beneficial practice?
2. What are some things you have given up for Lent in the past and how did you feel about it?
3. What are your experiences with fasting from food?

--Whitney