Cochrane Alliance Church

Not sure if you realized it, but Lent began last Wednesday, February 17th. Lent (by one defition at about.com) is a time when "many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection."

If the tradition of Lent is unfamiliar to you, I’d encourage you to do a little research on the web. Start with the Wikipedia article (which I think gives a fairly balanced and broad perspective) and then go a little deeper.

I didn’t actually decide what I was going to fast from during this period until a few days AFTER the 17th. I guess my fast will have to go a few days past April 4th! Last year I decided to stay away from pop or any drinks with sugar. As a certified juice-and-pop-aholic, it was tough. This year I’ve decided to stick with the food theme (always difficult for me in terms of self-discipline) and go with chocolate. So...no Easter bunnies, no mini-eggs, no Lindt...you’re getting the picture. My plan is to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for me each time I get the choco-cravings. I’ll let you know how it goes.

So, I’m curious. What are you giving up for lent?