Lent used to signify sacrifice. When I was a girl, I gave up hot chocolate. I longed for Easter morning when I could once again taste the creamy goodness of warmed milk and powdered chocolate. As I grew older I considered doing something nice for those 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday. Maybe I could write in a gratitude journal or reach out to people I hadn’t spoken with in a while. Maybe give up cursing. Still later, I did nothing, considering the act of intentional sacrifice a waste of time, particularly if one’s heart was not in it.
This year I listened to an interview with Father Richard Rohr. Near the end of the podcast, he was asked what he was giving up for Lent. I listened. Then I played it again. And, again. These are my notes:
“Accept
Accept the little humiliations, the little disappointments that come your way every day.
Accept the little moments of lack of comfort, the times you don’t get your way.
All day, it’s a letting go of the comforts, the consolations, the lack of respect.
Learn to love that; Jesus did.
Accept the limitations (no dessert).
If you set out to heroically deny yourself that dessert, there is not a place for it.
Hidden heroism is hidden ego.
Instead, ‘I’m very happy.’ Accept.”
So, for Lent, and for every day, my goal is acceptance. I may not achieve that goal—likely, I will not. But, I will see it as an opportunity. And, I will try, fail, and sometimes succeed.