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When I was a child in elementary school, I remember my friends talking about having to "give up" chocolate (or some other item) during Lent. They couldn't wait until Easter so that they could have the item that they "gave up" for the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. So, what was their purpose for giving something up, if they were just going to do it again once Easter came? I just didn't understand.
My father had a different idea - take up something to create a new habit or attitude. Whether that was visiting someone in a nursing home, helping a neighbor with yard work or grocery shopping, something that was serving someone else. As children, it was something as simple as choosing a task or chore around the house that we would take on to contribute to the family, and continue doing long after Easter arrived.
Someone once told me that it takes about 21 to 28 days to change our habits - maybe a little longer for a purposeful change in our attitudes. It takes concentrated effort and thought every single day to make the new change become a natural part of our routines. I've tried it - and it's hard at first, but becomes easier each day during the 21 days.
How many of you choose to "give up" a habit during Lent? Why do you choose to do this? Are you determined to overcome something that has control over you? Or do you "take on" a new positive attitude or habit in hopes that the period of Lent will make it stick? Do you do this to change a behavior, or to deprive yourself? What drives you to do this?
Many Sundays throughout the church year we sing the offertory:
"Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free Spirit."
Advent, like Lent, gives us an opportunity to prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior. An opportunity to reflect on our lives - our habits, thoughts, activities, friends, attitudes. Is there something we need to change or improve? Is there any better time than now to start making a positive change?
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