Today’s Ash Wednesday. That means 40 days until Easter right? All day today, people have been talking about what they’re giving up for 40 days. I snicker every time I hear it. Not to belittle their sacrifice, but because of the Church’s quirky sense of humor. People THINK they’re giving up something for 40 days, but it’s actually 46 days. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends at Sundown on Holy Thursday.
All day people have been discussing, contemplating, and sharing what they’re giving up for lent this year, and for the most part, their small sacrifice will help them in some way. Some giving up soda to lose weight. Some giving up meat to help lower cholesterol. Cigarettes, to decrease their risk of cancer and save money. You get the gist.
MY goal is to read the entire New Testament starting tonight and finishing by the end of Lent. I won’t preach to you and give you the Cliff Notes version of my readings. But I think the outcome of my “sacrifice” of time and investment of biblical reading will yield some good lessons/interpretations on how we can be better to each other and make the world a better place. Maybe Rodney King said it best “Can’t we all just get along?”
Now let me start out that I’m NOT going to be preaching the bible and shoving it down your throat. That’s not my job or intent. I’ll still go out to bars with friends, still drink a little to ease some stress. I’m not going to quit living. On the contrary, my journey is to appreciate life from a better perspective.
But I believe the true sacrifice of lent is to do something that will better us as humans and improve our relationships with other people. Thus, improving our relationship with God.
So tonight I start my journey. I don’t know if anyone has ever read my blog, so really I’m writing for my own contemplation and record keeping. A way to keep thoughts organized and remind myself of life lessons learned during this process. If I end the season with even 1 comment, I’ll feel I succeeded in some small way.
Happy Trails on your own journeys!
