Lenten Coffee and Loving What I Have

vol. 3 | going gently

via Shane Hoving on Unsplash

I never practiced Lent growing up. That strange ritual was reserved for my two Catholic best friends, and I, of the know-it-all evangelical sort, lightly scoffed at their annual sacrifices, which usually amounted to giving up chocolate and not eating meat on Fridays. But as I grew older and began to experience the beauty of mainline Protestant churches for myself, as well as the previously-scoffed-at Catholic rituals, I found myself hungry for more of the universal practices that Christians of all types engage in each Lenten season.

The idea of so many of us participating in a specific practice all at once—each in our own unique way—is incredibly beautiful to me. I now long for the sacred ordinary of this moment, and cherish the time I get to spend with saints all over the globe turning our hearts, minds, and bodies toward the sacrificial work of Christ. The fact that Lent is falling in line with this Going Gently series also makes this a ripe opportunity for me to continue saying no to myself where I have previously said yes.

(And often.)