Day 37 - Giving up Lent for chocolate

The title is not a mistake. Our dedication and devotion during Lent bring rewards. Chocolate is both symbolic and real. People give up chocolate for Lent but succumb to temptation as they approach Easter. So, giving up Lent for chocolate. Your symbolic chocolate might be spiritual devotion, and the same principle applies.

Now, here is a word of encouragement. Completing the Lent journey of 40 days and 40 nights is hard but God is always there to help us and the Holy Spirit is there to guide and comfort us. And at the end is Easter when we mourn Christ’s death before celebrating His resurrection. As William Williams wrote:

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah

Pilgrim through this barren land

I am weak, but Thou art mighty

Hold me with Thy powerful hands

Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore.

Let us take stock. How many of us want to give up just before the end. Our goal or destination is in sight, we anticipate a well of satisfaction ready to be released. We are there. It is just one more sustained effort, and our journey will be complete. And then we stop, as we hear the phrases, “that will do,” or “near enough.” Excuses flood into our minds, as we become distracted. We can see victory, but we are distracted by the taste of metaphorical chocolate. Like Moses, we can see the promised land, but entry is denied. We give up too soon. As we were reminded on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a “space of honest self-examination,” and “this season is not about sacrifice; it is about resurrection hope,” … “as we journey from Ash Wednesday towards Easter’s promise.” So, be encouraged, keep going, finish your Lenten experience. As we read in Colossians 3:23 (NIV):

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

For those of us who have slipped a little, we still have a week to pick up the reigns and return to our journey. Sometimes, a short burst of concentrated effort can reap great rewards. Remember the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1–16. Each worker received their agreed reward, regardless of the hours worked. So, God will reward you for your effort. Do not be jealous of our brothers and sisters who can sustain a prolonged period of dedicated effort. Be thankful that there is still time before Easter to start and finish your Lenten reflection. After all, your personal ‘journey’ might start before Easter and go on afterwards, towards Pentecost.

May our shared experience of travelling through Lent galvanise us into a harmonious band of committed Christians. May the shared experience of self-examination, resurrection hope and Easter’s promise enrich both our hearts and souls. We will have our “chocolate” at Easter.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for providing this time for dedicated reflection. Thank you for providing brothers and sisters with whom we can share this experience. Thank you for helping us to grow closer to You and more Like You. Help us to finish the course and be prepared for the blessings, and challenges which Easter will bring.

Michael Rolton