This year for Lent, I am thinking of reducing rather than giving anything up. I plan on reducing my carbs, fewer snacks, smaller portions at meals. As part of my faith journey, I actually started these changes in February. If I am being truthful, I’m not actually doing any of these things for Lent. My reasons are not about piety, but rather vanity. I got on the scale and realized that I’ve gained 15 pounds in the past three years. I guess when you switch from a job of doing physically demanding work for 12 hours a day to sitting in front of a computer screen for 12 hours a day, you gain weight if you don’t change what you eat. I’m looking forward to spring weather more than ever so I can get back to landscaping between classes to work off some of those extra pounds.

For those that give things up for Lent, I think that duality is often common. We hear stories about people giving up chocolate, candy, beer, red meat and other less than healthy foods. Other people give up television or other screen time. These are all things that while sacrificial are also beneficial to our physical and spiritual health. We don’t hear stories about people giving up things like vegetables, although my daughter Marta would willingly give up the entire squash family for Lent. We don’t give up things that make us healthy. We tend to only “sacrifice” by making healthy choices. That isn’t a bad thing.

What if this year for Lent, we didn’t focus on giving anything up. What if instead we focus on taking care of ourselves and our physical and spiritual health. Make a goal to find time for prayer or meditation. Take the time to take a walk. Take time to connect with someone that you have been missing. Do an act of kindness for someone else. By taking care of ourselves, we are both honoring God’s words to us and strengthening ourselves to do God’s work. Let the Holy Spirit guide you during this season of lent. 

Edwin Aparicio, Pastoral Intern