Tuesday 3rd March. – Lent 2009

An article by Drew    No Comments

One of the truths we can take from the Adam and Eve story is that given a choice between a healthy, sensible option and a dumb, self destructive one, people will all too often choose the latter.

Millions still smoke, drive drunk, eat fatty foods and ignore their doctor’s warnings.

Given a choice between a brisk walk followed by an evening reading an educational book or slobbing out on the couch, watching a trashy movie and eating chocolate biscuits I’m afraid that 99 times out of 100 I’d go for Rambo and the chit chats.

Most of us have weaknesses and addictions. We know these things are bad for us but we do them anyone. We also resist taking our medicine, doing the things we know would improve our lives, just as we resisted our mother trying to force us to eat vegetables and clean our teeth.

Our parents weren’t being mean or arbitrary with their restrictions and instructions. They were trying to help us grow up healthy and safe. Similarly our father/mother/creator God isn’t some cosmic spoilsport or sadist imposing rules just to make our lives difficult.

God wants us to realize our full potential, to become all He intended us to be. Unfortunately this involves discipline and hard work. It’s unavoidable. I always think it unfair that months of hard work getting fit can be undone in a few weeks of sloth and gluttony. (Two of my favourite deadly sins!) Life is an uphill journey.

Lent gives us a great opportunity to improve our spiritual fitness, to push ourselves and train hard over a limited period. So this Lent don’t just give up something trivial for no good reason. Tackle a real addiction – something that comes between you and what you were meant to be. Force yourself up a bit earlier and go for a walk. Leave your ipod behind and tune in to God’s great, slow conversation of sights and sounds in the world around you.

How about doing something kind for someone in your family, at work, or overseas via TEAR Fund and not telling anyone about it? If you’re giving up a luxury like perked coffee or fast food, do what the fasting video on this blog suggested and donate the money to people who don’t have the essentials let alone luxuries.

Yeah it’s going to hurt a bit but it’s good hurt, like the burn in your muscles when you’ve had a good workout at the gym. It’s the feeling of God cutting and polishing away the dross to reveal the diamond that’s you.