Fat Tuesday is over. The season of Lent begins today—forty days of preparation to celebrate the Easter resurrection of Christ.

Forty days of saying “No” to the self and what it wants.

I am not good at this.

Growing up Lutheran, we were challenged to “Give up something for Lent.” I tried to give up solving equations, practicing the piano, drying the dishes.

I was urged to be sober. Sorry. Reflective. “Think about Jesus sleeping on stones, fasting in the wilderness, facing off with the devil,” one Sunday School teacher suggested.

Pretty big assignment for a kid. [Read more…]