Today is Ash Wednesday, which heralds the beginning of the Lenten season. Growing up, I remember going to church on Ash Wednesday in the mornings and watching my parents go to work with a smudge of Ash on their foreheads.
I would proudly carry the Ash on my forehead and tell my friends it was something Christians did. I had no idea what the Ash represented, and all I knew about Lent was that it was a season when adults around me gave up something (eating meat, sugar, fasting every day). I had a vague idea that we celebrated Easter somewhere at the end of Lent.
Most of the adults around me used to become vegetarians during Lent, and I can recall conversations where people would complain about missing chicken or beef and how much weight they were losing. The whole season they seemed simply weird to me. I did not understand anything except that it seemed to be when Christians sacrificed something and then walked around sounding self-righteous.
Because I grew up in an Islamic nation, I often compared Lent to Ramadan. Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims observe it worldwide as a month of fasting, reflection, prayer, and community. Observing Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It usually lasts about thirty days and culminates in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
As a child, I was intrigued when I would see Muslims taking time to pray during Ramadan. And watching them celebrate Iftar (breaking of the fast with the nightly feast) made me wonder why we never celebrated like that during Lent. All the Christians that I knew just seemed to be miserable during Lent. So, for me, it was unappealing.
As I grew up, I ignored the Lenten season. I did not care for a church season which forced me to give up something I loved and made me miserable. But since I was a product of a legalistic upbringing and tradition, I felt I owed it to God to sacrifice something for Lent.
So, several years after social media emerged, I sacrificed Facebook and Instagram for Lent. I felt a sense of pride when I announced to my little world that I was going off social media and asked friends to contact me via text or email. I felt good. I mean, I was giving up something for Jesus. Even when people would wish me on my birthday, which always falls during Lent, I felt better about asking my husband to log in and thank people on my behalf. I wouldn't even break it for the weekends. As far as I was concerned, I was rocking Lent!
Well, I can honestly tell you that staying off social media during Lent did not make me holy, nor did it teach me anything wise. All I felt was FOMO, and a lot of it. It served my selfish and self-righteous heart, and I did not feel closer to God. So, what was this Lent?
I realized then that my reasoning for giving up something for God was not what Lent was about. It was not about what I was giving up; it was about examining my heart and reflecting on the dust and ashes in my life. It offered me the time and space to reconnect with this liturgical practice. A way to remind me that I was a sinner in desperate need of a Saviour. A way to repent, renew my faith, and reorient myself to God.
Over the last few years, while I am not spending every hour on social media, I no longer feel the need to disappear completely.
During Lent, I have enjoyed adding something to my day instead of giving up something. It could be extra prayer before bed, a few pages of commentary or teaching on Lent, contemplative music while journaling, or Compline at the end of the day. I have found these spiritual practices to be restorative to my soul. They help me refocus and reorient toward God. But, unfortunately, we live busy, rushed, and hyper-productive lives. It is not wrong to be productive, but being productive is often contrary to being spiritual. As a result, I am anxious, stressed, short-tempered, and often lack margin for what is essential.
Lent reminds me to slow down. The laying of ashes on the forehead is not some spiritual mark of pride but an awareness that we cannot escape death despite our productivity. The Ash reminds me to breathe. Breathe in the renewal that He will bring.
It is not wrong to give up something during this season. However, less sugar and caffeine might benefit your heart, and we could all do with less social media.
But Lent allows us to clean and reorganize our spiritual life. Our spiritual lives can get disorganized and messy. So, we can use this time wisely to get cleaned up, reoriented, and focus on God's new purposes.
As we spend time in introspection and repentance, we know that our Restorer is right there with us, redeeming us. So, likewise, we can be assured that in our desperation, His presence is right there with us.
Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth
I love your honesty, Sherene!😊 I’m thankful my Lenten practices have evolved into something more meaningful over the years as well.
Love reading your reflection. I especially resonate with this: “Lent reminds me to slow down. The laying of ashes on the forehead is not some spiritual mark of pride but an awareness that we cannot escape death despite our productivity. The Ash reminds me to breathe. Breathe in the renewal that He will bring.” ♥️