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March 2004
The Journey to Easter
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March 2004
The Journey to Easter
Walking the deck of a submarine repair ship, I was approached by a sailor who asked, "Chaplain, what are you giving up for Lent?" I was unprepared for the question. Making a sacrifice during Lent was not my practice. Having grown up in the evangelical tradition, with a strong emphasis on repentance and right living, the subject of sacrifice just never came up.
Now that years have passed since that young man's question, each Lenten season I ask myself a very similar question, "How can I journey through this season and come to Easter better understanding the truth of Jesus and walking more faithfully as His disciple?" For me, that journey involves intentional self-denial. The details of that self-denial are less important for me than the practice.
Self-denial may take the form of fasting; giving up food or drink one day a week or it may take different forms. Perhaps one year self-denial may be in the form of less television and that time spent in meditative reading. The form is not so important but the practice has become very important. One other thing, this is for me a personal, intimate journey that remains between God and me, no one else needs to know.
I do strongly recommend the practice of self-denial, especially during Lent. Intentionally denying oneself something is good for the soul. It is a daily or weekly reminder that we freely give ourselves to God's offer of fellowship. Self-denial is not giving something up in order to get even more, it is denying simply for the purpose of strengthening faith by consciously doing something physical that reinforces the journey of faith. It is a way of dying, even for a short time, to the power of material goods and entertainment with the intent of bending our soul toward God.
Let me encourage each one of us to make a journey this Lenten season. Easter is coming but first there is a cross. Our self-denial is a cross we willingly take up so that we might more readily receive the good news of Easter.
Grace and Peace,
David