lent

this year i'm giving up some stuff for lent. i have a moderately liturgical heart, and i missed out on the whole church calendar thing growing up. i like symbols and cadence and bodily expressions of my faith. i like to attach meaning to my ordinary days. observing lent is one way to do this. so what am i giving up?

1. fear - i am often controlled by fear. i do not want to be.
2. thinking i'm not pretty - it's time for this to go. i am pretty.
3. apathy - i'm giving up not thinking about people in need.
4. saying negative things about myself - this really isn't good for me.
5. alcohol - i'm allergic. i went 30 yrs without drinking - should be easy.
6. caffeine (mostly) - it gives me a splitting headache, but i'm allowing decaf coffee and chocolate, because i live in seattle and they comfort me.

so for 40 days i will ask for help, give stuff up, and hopefully be more aware of the God who created me to be free - free from fear, free from insecurity, free from self-contempt, and free to be healthy.

what saves a man is to take a step. then another step. c.s. lewis