Are you doing anything for Lent this year?

Otter asked if I am doing anything for Lent this year so I told her this:

I was raised Baptist and there was no mention of Lent.  Still, I learned about it from my RC friends who were always giving something up, usually food of some sort.  Kids are jealous of cultural details of their friends, thinking they are missing out.  I was jealous about Lent because my family did not have Lent.  My mother explained that it was an RC way of honouring Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us.  She said it was a nice little human way of saying thank you back and so all very well for RCs.  But she said, protestants simply chose to embrace the view that Jesus sacrifice was free, a gift, and that while he might smile benevolently as the RCs gave up treats at Lent, he really just wanted the same thing of all of us whether RC or protestant:  to accept his loving sacrifice freely and joyfully and to open up and allow it to change our hearts and souls and lives every day all year.

So that was that on lent for me. Until...my own stupid (lol) adult presbyterian congregation took on Lent.  Why?!  We are protestant.  My eyes rolled back in my head and I just ignored my fellow parishioner's prereformation regression.  Until...the kids' stupid (lol) Sunday School teachers told them all about the benefits of Lent and sacrificing for Jesus and that they were all to give something up.  I had no warning.  I did not know the SS was going to brainwash my little sheep who were now all convinced they must do this thing.  Sigh. The kids understood that for Jesus to be pleased they must give up something they truly liked.   

So Daniel (age 7) gave up fresh fruit

And Nathan (age 7) gave up chocolate

And Nic (age 9) gave up cake

Damn that stupid SS!

Mothers of kids that age have trouble finding dishes that the whole family can enjoy together because young kids often have strong likes and dislikes.  The ONLY dessert we all sat around in family fellowship enjoying together was chocolate fondue.  It was a highlight of family unity and harmony and joy.  Daniel adored and ate the cut up array of many fruits. Nathan adored the chocolate sauce and his cubes of cake.  Nic loved the ensemble and partook in all equally. David (age 5) joined in the fun and learned the process of sharing and taking turns.

(When pressed about lent, David gave up girls because he hated the girl next door and was forced to play with her.  He was the only sensible one and I was proud of him for turning the SS schmozzle to his own self interest which is what, I am sure, many Christians do each Lent)

Otter told me this about Lent and of course (as usual) she is exactly right:  "Lent isn't really about what you "give up" it's about clearing away obstacles in your life which are not allowing you to have as full a relationship with God as you could...Without the goal of bringing oneself closer to God, Lent would be just like making a New Year's Resolution - all sacrifice and no tangible immediate benefit - no wonder most people abandon their resolutions within weeks or days of making them."

Yes I agree.  The goal is to bring oneself closer to god and to examine the obstacles in our lives that obscure the path.  Fruit and chocolate and cake brought my children closer to god because they promoted loving fellowship.  The SS twisted the entire meaning of Lent giving them the impression that they would find more favour with god if they gave up abundant life. Whereas god wants us to clear away obstacles that impede us from embracing abundant life.  No wonder many kids raised in the church graduate never really having felt the loving arms of Jesus and the faith to sustain them when they are confused or hurt or broken.