Lent - a reality check for the mind, soul and body.

I was looking through my comments, and through a friend's blog, I found this other friends' blog where folks share their Lent journey for this year, and a little extra of what the good Lord is stirring in the heart.

I made it a point this year to be disciplined for Lent--and I totally messed up already. Externally, I have chosen to give up my morning coffee, and soda. Both are hard for me to give up because they became so "mechanical" or routine for me. I'm afraid that one day during this period, I'll botch my login password and lock myself out of the network. Soda-even though I drink diet, it has become like water to me. At an intial level, giving these up will cause me to be more responsible about my rest routines. The biggest times of temptation will be in social functions throughout the 40-day period. You know, when you're at someone's b-day party/dinner, or you're out with friend's at [add favorite food place], you are in the moment, and then you hear "sir, can I get you a drink?"...ah yeah sure, I'll have a diet coke. I've had coffee 4 times, and about 9 sodas - and it totally slipped my mind what I set out and commited to abstain from. Gotta stop making the excuses; gotta try harder. Time to break out the 1/2 gallon water jugs I put away.


Internally, the last several months I started swearing again, and mostly out of frustration at something: work; traffic (not as much as I used to in LA). While I do limit myself mostly to the d-word at work, in the car and at home, I get lazy. I grew up with a foul mouth, and since high school I learned to zip-it. Such talk is not helpful, at best it's negative even. I wish I had a punching bag at my desk sometimes. No, no, I'm not violent. I am a gentle beast with hidden fury!! ha ha, j/k. that doesn't make sense. @#% #W$%#@.

So through all this, I realized how I became a victim of convenience. It's convenient for me to stay up late (like I am now writing this) and rely on the coffee in the morning; it's convenient for me to say sh*#, or da@#!!! when messed up my spreadsheet or another emergency project pops up at work. It is convenient for me to be loose in my personal care and not hold my tongue. Lent (I pray) will be that time to restore my discipline and touch base with God on what I need to grow in this year.

I know that there are some folks who read my blog who probably don't go to church or have any religious belief for that matter, but if I may challenge you with this - if you have an open mind, give something up for a month. No this is not a secret ploy to break down your wall and come to faith (if I'm going to share my faith, I will show you and hopefully my actions speak for themselves). For starters, pick a bad habit or something like giving up watching some aspect of TV (or all of it). Challenge yourself by giving something up. Sacrifice/abstainence are almost universal in meaning to many folks. If you have a friend that does go to church, Christian, Catholic, etc, ask them what Lent means to them.

Remember, while it's an open invitation, make it purposeful. Why would you give something up? Why not? What do you have to gain or lose? What matters to you in life? I grew up half my life outside of church, and the last half trying to figure out why God loves me so much. I have lived life on both sides of the coin, and boy let me tell you, life is not easier either way. BUT, one is more purposeful.

So riddle me this - - What drives your life?