But when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” – Ephesians 5:13-14
Every Saturday night I set an additional alarm. I first set one on my phone; it’s the primary alarm that wakes me each morning. Then I set a second alarm for 5 minutes later. It’s on an alarm clock I specifically purchased for Sunday mornings. It’s one of those designs that has two bells on top and when the alarm goes off, a small clapper rapidly strikes one and then the other, producing a loud annoying sound. What typically happens, however, is that I hop up with my phone alarm and my first thought is to shut off the alarm clock before it goes off. Doing something different on Saturday night makes me more mindful – even when I’m waking from a deep sleep, I quickly remember the other alarm clock.
Giving something up for Lent helps in a very similar way. It introduces something different into my normal routine that becomes a reminder for me to focus on preparing my heart during Lent. Giving up something trivial like Diet Coke or coffee isn’t exactly a spiritual exercise, but removing them from my daily routine sets off an internal alarm every time I want one. I’m reminded to turn instead to a devotional practice like prayer or reading my Bible.
On that first Easter morning, the world woke up to the proclamation of eternal life. Leading up to that moment was the sacrificial love of Jesus which caused Him to be condemned to death, crucified, and buried. The forty days of Lent are an opportunity for us to consider the depth of Christ’s love for us and how we are called to share that kind of love with others. Lent is the wake-up call to the experience of Easter.
Why not try giving up something during Lent and see how it can serve as an alarm to wake you up and direct you toward prayer, scripture, and service?
Rev. Wendy Lambert, Senior Executive Pastor
