40 Days...

Being raised Baptist, I have never really participated in Lent.  I knew about it because my mother was raised Catholic.  To be honest, I was always a little bit jealous of those kids who got to "do Lent."  Part of me felt like I was being left out of something great. Strange, I know, but it's the truth.

Over the summer, my friend Amy loaned me the book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, written by the insightful and entertaining, Jen Hatmaker.

The author and her family did a 30-day fast for seven consecutive months, in areas where she felt they were being wasteful/excessive. The seven areas she focused on were: food, clothes, shopping, media, stress, possessions and waste.  The book is both hilarious and challenging at the same time.  It made me really evaluate HOW I spend my time, my energy, our family's money and where I place my importance.  Was I making an idol out of someTHING in my life?

I don't necessarily struggle in the areas of food, clothes and shopping.  Anyone who knows me knows that I still wear clothes that I bought in college.  I have shoes with holes in the soles and missing heels.  I like to eat a good steak, but I am just as happy eating a bowl of Lucky Charms.  However, the chapters on media, stress and waste were very eye-opening.  So much wasted time and energy. These chapters made me a little depressed, but gave me hope that I can do better.

Anyway, back to Lent... This book got me thinking about Lent.

It is my understanding that Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter) is a time for fasting.  A time to give something up and replace it with prayer, meditation and worship.  When I was in high school, most of my Catholic friends would give up chocolate, sodas or TV.  However, I want to spend my 40 days preparing my heart for Easter.  I want to spend my 40 days giving to my family.  Giving to my friends.  Loving others.

So, here are my plans for the next 40 days:

• Read a daily devotional and spend time in prayer
• Spend time and energy planning meals and cooking for my family
• Set aside time for uninterrupted, meaningful conversation with Matt
• Plan bedtime routines so that there is plenty of time to read to and have uninterrupted, meaningful conversations with Alison and Jacob
• Take Emily for walks in the stroller and get to know the neighbors
• De-clutter one area of my house everyday (I got this idea from www.whitehouseblackshutters.com)
• Limit my time on Facebook and Pinterest :)
• Reconnect with friends via email or telephone
• Anything else that God shows me...

I will keep you posted on my 40 days.  No more being left out of the Lent Club!  Bring it on.