Choose Well, Choose Life

  I grew up in a Christian family where the season of Lent always meant we gave something up until Easter.  Perhaps it was chocolate, or soda, or a particular TV show.“  Some people gave up smoking, hair cuts, beer, and other habits.  I could never understand how that helped my faith.  I simply missed the chocolate chip cookies or other treats, envied those who did not go to church, and resented God a bit.  Then, as a volunteer youth leader I led a retreat on fasting.

The concept of fasting is not rooted in impressing God with our self-denial so we can change God’s mind, although some people use fasting with that in mind.  The actual roots are that when “fasting”, one uses the money that would have been spent for something like a particular meal or food or chocolate (now) instead in something that furthers God’s work in the world—like a special gift to hunger relief.  The time spent not cooking—or watching a particular show now, or listening to particular music, or playing video games is--used instead in meditation, in meeting with God, in reading or prayer, seeking to better live our faith.  In other words, the disciplines of Lent—extra prayer time, extra Bible reading, extra worship, extra service, extra gifts to help others—were about evaluating the resources God has given us for living, and about making choices that furthered God’s work in the world.

During Lent we focus on Jesus’s journey to the cross.  He had the power to heal, to multiply resources like bread, to attract a large following, to call down angels to defend himself.   However, he chose instead to yield up the possibilities to make all things go smoothly for himself, and chose to use his resources—his very life—to bless us.

This Lent,

focus on life-giving choices.  Join us in worship.  Increase your own time simply talking with God.  Ponder how you use your resources—alone and with your family.  When my daughter was young, we went to McDonald’s after worship on Sunday.  That was our treat of the week.  However, as we debated what we would eat, she helped decide whether we use the little money we had to buy French fries, or is we would give that money to help people in need.  Perhaps you will wish to have similar conversations this lent about finances, time, and choices. 

Choose well.  Choose life.  Help those you love choose life for self and others.

                                                                                   Diane Wheatley