Lent approaches; talking about giving

We are officially ten days out from Lent. Can you believe it? In these corona-times, I really do feel like time is just kind of a flowing river, one day directly into the next.

On Tuesday this week I got to speak with John and Glen of Morning Air about giving. They are in the middle of their pledge drive (donate here), so we talked about the idea of stewardship, and more importantly, why we are called to give: because Jesus gave the ultimate gift, of his life. And, everything we have - everything! - is a gift from God. So turn it over, baby. You can listen to the interview here.

On the Lent front, I appreciated this article from a fellow Catholic Stand author, “A Gentle Approach for Troubled Times.” Troubled times, indeed. I am reminded that during Lent, we don’t actually have to “give something up.” I grew up thinking that was the only way with Lent, but in reality, it is just as healthy to add something. For example, a prayer practice or act of service.

Regardless, Lent is not a marathon nor a sprint; it is not a test of physical stamina whatsoever. It is not a sporting event. It is an opportunity to simplify and remove the noise that distracts us from fully having a relationship with God, as well as a time to meditate on the suffering Christ endured for us. Resist the temptation to turn it into a personal test of your will or even feel like you have “failed” at Lent. Ain’t nobody got time for that!