Lent is just not the same this year. Many people value the practice of receiving ashes on their foreheads. In past years in urban areas, clergy have stood on street corners offering ashes-to-go to anyone who wanted them. This year, many churches have no services or are open for limited capacity services. Clergy tried no-touch ways of distributing ashes to the faithful, including sprinkling on top of the head or distributing little plastic bags for do-it-yourself ashes. The pandemic means that Lent is missing familiar traditions.
As I reflected on Lent, I’ve considered that the Lenten journey is not about symbols like ashes, mournful liturgies with somber music, or ego-centric prayers about our sinfulness. Instead, the Lenten journey is about us becoming better people. The call of Lent is to embrace what it means to actively live as followers of Jesus. Perhaps for this Lent, during the pandemic, we have an opportunity to consider what spiritual practices can mean for us. For centuries, the traditional practices for lent have been prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Can we reclaim the tradition in new ways this year?
Prayer. It has been the practice for most Christian churches to hold special services and study groups during Lent as a way to engage people in prayer during these sacred weeks. This year, many activities will take place virtually. But let’s be honest: many people are experiencing what’s been commonly called, “Zoom-fatigue.” So many things in our lives are done virtually that it’s become exhausting. Perhaps rather than depending on church services and classes via Zoom, it could be helpful and transformative to be more deliberate about prayer each day. I don’t mean that everyone needs to spend hours each day in prayer. That’s not realistic. But during Lent, perhaps a simple routine could be incorporated into your life. Each morning, simply pause and in your own words express gratitude for the day and for being alive. Each night, before sleep, pause again to express thanks for the day, its events, and the people you encountered. Over the forty days of Lent, expressing gratitude in both the morning and evening will lead to a significant change in your outlook, the way you experience life’s events, and your appreciation of life.
Fasting. Somehow our fasting has become “giving up” some food that we enjoy, like giving up chocolate or pizza or ice cream. Perhaps there’s some benefit in that, but I’ve never found it. Is it worth considering that the fasting that will help to lead us into changed lives is to fast from negative comments about others. That could be difficult for many of us. Or fasting from a pessimistic view on life. Or we could fast from the things we think or say that convey judgment of others. That would be a Lenten practice that would change us very deeply. While it’s probably easier to give up chocolate or ice cream, a fast that makes us more positive and loving people is something to embrace for our own wellbeing and the benefit of our families and communities.
Almsgiving. As a child, I was taught to collect lose change over Lent and at Easter donate it to programs that assisted people in financial distress. That’s a laudable thing. But money is tight for many people today. While those who are able should be encouraged to give to food banks and other agencies serving people in need, perhaps during Lent we could also consider giving something other than money. Perhaps we could give kindness to the people we encounter. My Muslim neighbors have taught me that even a smile is an act of charity. The notion of random acts of kindness grew out of Jewish spirituality. Striving to be kind to others, both those close to us and those we don’t know but encounter would change us, our families, and communities.
Indeed, Lent this year may not be like those of the past. But if we’re willing to reconsider the Lenten journey to Easter, we can engage in simple spiritual practices that will lead us to experience new life. That would truly be something to celebrate at Easter, wouldn’t it?
Photo by dj denim on Wunderstock