Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3
ALERT: These are (ahem... mostly) 100% true notes from the journal of an anonymous Christian. Trace the 'progress' through the 40 days in Lent:
#1
I’m giving up chocolate for Lent.
#4
So far so good, not as hard as anticipated.
#10
In regrettable off-guard moment, realized I was swallowing a brownie. How can I maintain Lenten resolve now?
#11
Solution: modify Lenten discipline to give up only solid chocolates - harder to overlook. That’s what I meant all along.
#16
Lenten modification helps. Hot chocolate is a gift from heaven on these final days of winter.
#22
Dilemma carefully solved: An office mate passed me a plate of her famous homemade chocolate chip cookies at lunch. It would be rude to say no, and appear pious to explain why. However, baking actually softens the solid chips. Moreover, by definition, something chipped is no longer solid. Finally, the essence of the cookie is not chocolate. The chips are accidental to the cookie. This Lenten discipline requires serious thought.
#23
Amazed at the lightning speed at which my mind worked yesterday at lunch. That whole thought process occurred between the time I moved my hand toward the plate of cookies and said, “Thank you.”
#33
Needed a sugar kick this afternoon so stopped at the grocery store for a snack. A harmless candy bar with 0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of carbs caught my eye; no nutritional vice here. Isn’t Lent partly about avoiding vices? But NO, I mustn’t indulge, I argued, this bar is solid chocolate. To be certain, I read the ingredients: cocoa butter (technically that’s not chocolate), chocolate liqueur, fat, and salt. Eureka! Liqueur is syrupy, but not solid. There is not one bit of solid chocolate in these bars. It’s only fat and salt that make them appear solid. They were on sale, too: 4 for $5, one full ounce of highly salted, chocolate-flavored fat. Sold! (They were no match for Godiva.)
#34
Failed to read the fine print on back of wrapper. “Excess consumption may cause a laxative effect in sensitive people.” They did.
#40
And so, I’ve kept my Lenten resolve, but I can’t quite look Jesus in the eye.
Lord, have mercy on this rationalizing Pharisee. Melt my solidly self-pleasing heart by your softening self-sacrificing grace. Help me to pick up my cross and faithfully follow you. Amen.
-Anonymous Christian
God bless you!
Ruth
