When my daughter Jamie was in High School, she had her best friend, Janey, over at the house.  Now this was early Spring and the beginning of the Lenten season – those 40 days of preparation prior to Easter.  Janey was also a church member, so it was not unusual for conversations in our home to turn to church matters as I was not just her best friend’s mom, but I was also her pastor.  So on this particular day, Janey asked me if I was giving anything up for Lent.  I don’t know if she was just trying to make small talk or wondering why I was attempting to hide my favorite cookies behind the unwanted, high fiber, low sugar, albeit boring box of cereal in the pantry. 

With the evidence of a half-eaten cookie still lingering on my bottom lip, I told her that I had given up hating my children.  Janey got real quiet for a moment, obviously contemplating my words and her response and what she knew about me and my family. Gathering her thoughts, she finally said, “but Ms. RL, you don’t hate your children.”  To which I responded, “I know, look how well I am doing!”

While my faith tradition does not usually practice this spiritual disciple of giving up something for Lent, I have to say there have been times that I have added this to my Lenten journey.  The first few times I tried it I must admit I was not very good at it.  I picked things that did not mean much to me, like giving up Diet Coke or chocolate. It seemed superficial and it probably was.  It certainly wasn’t a sacrifice by any stretch of the imagination. There were other times that I decided I would fast, like really fast, going 24 hours between meals.  I have to say I have so much respect for those who do that during Lent, because there is no amount of prayer to keep my “hangry” from showing.  Sadly, giving up something for Lent did not seem to be for me.

So I got to thinking, how might I flip the script? Instead of fasting from food, what if I fasted from resentment.  How might my relationship with God and everybody for that matter be better if I fasted from anger? What if I fasted from television or social media or gaming devices and spent that time in conversations with loved ones?  Or instead of giving up something superficial like Diet Coke or chocolate, what if I added something meaningful to my routine like a volunteer opportunity, a mission or helping out a friend in need? The possibilities are only as limited as our imaginations. 

On the journey,

Ramonalynn Bethley 

Ramonalynn Bethley is the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. If you would like to contact Ramonalynn, please email her at DrRevRL@fumca.org