Simplifying your life is at the heart of the Lent discipline. The world wants to sell us stuff. More stuff. Stuff we don't need, stuff we can't afford, stuff we won't have time to make the most of.
Traditionally Lent was a time for giving up rich food, and only eating simple food, and in addition, taking the money saved from the household budget and giving it to the poor. Lent was about simplifying your own life, and in the process levelling the playing field just a little.
We do spend a lot of money on food in our culture, but it might capture the Lent tradition better by looking at the stuff we buy - lots and lots and lots of consumer goods, disposable stuff with a limited capacity for bringing joy and benefit to our lives. It's a revelation to stop from time to time, and look at how much stuff is in your house that you have only used once or twice, thought you wanted really badly but actually didn't use that much. Lent is a good moment to re-think your relationship to stuff. Give up buying any unnecessary stuff for Lent. Then carve out a few sessions to recycle, give away, sell, or otherwise dispose of the clutter of unwanted stuff in your house, and in the process ponder what is real treasure and what is just wasted resources. By Easter you will be richer, leaner and wiser. You'll have more space, more time, and a clearer perspective on life framed by a new vision of God.
Excellent, Maggi.
Thank you.
Posted by: graham | 21/02/2007 at 12:02