Opportunity and Sacrifice

Today the liturgical season of Lent begins in Christianity. Having attended a Catholic school from the 4th grade through college, one gains a certain familiarity with the season. As a kid/young adult, I always connected my spirituality more with Lent than any other particular religious holiday or season. Within the confines of Christianity, Christmas feels practically almost overshadowed by the secular celebration (except for those of stronger faith), and Easter, though its the "culmination" of Lent, always felt, for like of a better word, primitive (human/divine sacrificial lamb, and all that).

But growing up Catholic, Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday, presented an opportunity for a more solemn reflection on one's life, on one's blessings, on one's challenges, on one's perspective. It presented an opportunity to challenge one's self through sacrifice - such an exercise always appealed to me, and struck the right chord in terms of my spirituality then, and my non-spirituality now. The hustle and bustle of life creates a routine that can become a dictator, leading us without thinking into living with contemplation on how to live. Lent provided a chance to avoid the dictatorship of the routine.

But as I continue to think about the practice so many engage in during Lent - of sacrificing or giving something up for 40 days - I wonder about the various motivations involved. Obviously, many are motivated by the religious, as people of faith engage in the practice of sacrifice to help understand and appreciate a sacrifice made for them. However, there are others that may approach it as an opportunity to conduct a course correct, to redirect their live in a positive way by abstaining from a negative influence. Still others approach the opportunity to challenge themselves, to see what they can do without for 40 days. Some combine two or all three of these motivations in approaching the Lenten season.

Nowadays, I have little religious or spiritual connection with Lent, but I am still drawn to it, primarily for the second and third motivations I mentioned above. An opportunity to course correct by removing from my life something that is ultimately corrosive or damaging or wasteful, yet, in the instant, enjoyable or gratifying. And the challenge such abstaining brings; to resolve one's will power to maintain absolute and firm control over the easy and meaningless impulse, in order to bring more meaning to one' life.

That to me, it what I've always been drawn to in Lent, and continue to be so drawn. And thus, despite my theological inclinations, I acknowledge the opportunity that begins today on Ash Wednesday, and look forward to the challenges I give myself over the next 40 days to abstain from certain negative habits and redirect towards more difficult but meaningful endeavors.

"Without pain, without sacrifice we would have nothing. Like the first monkey shot into space." - Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

"What you allow is what will continue." - Anonymous

"Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, you values become your destiny." - Mahatma Gandhi

"The truth is that everyone is bored, and devotes himself to cultivating habits." - Albert Camus