What you should gain from your Lent experience?
By: Taren Vaughan
Many of us are familiar with Lent season. For those that aren’t, it is the period of time leading right up to Easter that last a total of 40 days and 40 nights. Each year, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Palm (Easter) Sunday. During this time period, one is supposed to be practicing self-repentance, spiritual cleansing and doing some soul searching. Lent season gives you the opportunity to really become in tune with God.
While participating in Lent, people select one or multiple things to give up for the entire 40 days and 40 nights. When deciding what habit or food you are going to give up for Lent, make sure it’s something you do or consume on a regular basis. Don’t vow not to do something that you don’t normally do. You won’t be as fulfilled at the end of your process if you do. I myself began practicing Lent last year. I took diet sodas off my list of drinks for Lent. As an avid diet soda drinker, I will admit it was a hard task for me. For the most recent Lent season, I gave up sweets which was ten times harder to do. I almost couldn’t contain myself but I made it to the end once again. Although temptations were right in my face, I managed to avoid them very well. That is definitely something that I learned how to do from my personal Lent processes. Fight temptations.
Everyone’s Lent experience will be different. Some people will find that it was not as hard as they once suspected. Others may have to dig deep for some self-control to get them through the entire 40 day period. But I guarantee that you will gain something from the process and learn more about your spiritual self.