You Are the Subject of Lent

The days of discipline are upon us. Discipline, for some, is such a harsh word. It conjures up images of judgment, punishment, or ridicule. However, for the purposes of Lenten discipline, we need to return to the word’s root meaning: to teach. These are the days of teaching, and if you are going to teach, it is important become familiar with the subject matter at hand.

The two extreme approaches to Lenten discipline are either to make it fluffy and light (as in, “I’m giving up beer or chocolate” without any further purpose than giving up beer or chocolate) or to be as hard as a drill instructor (as in “I’m going to throttle the ego, strangle my mind, and purify my body right into sanctification”).

Perhaps the wisest approach to Lent would be to do something terribly Anglican by taking the via media, the middle way.

In his book, That Which Transpires Behind That Which Appears, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan points us in a good direction if we are serious about Lenten discipline. He says, “It is not good to kill our minds, or even to constrain them. Rather, we want to guide them and give them a direction. What is more, our lives and our problems are a very good object of meditation—rather than choosing an artificial object from our mantelpiece.”

The purpose of Lenten discipline is getting to know the subject matter, which is you and me. Becoming familiar with how I perceive the world, how I relate to others in times of joy and stress, how I handle difficult moments with my spouse, children, superior, or strangers shapes my lesson plans for Lent.

Khan is on point when he advises using problems and our lives as a focal point of meditation rather than some inanimate object, phrase, or koan (a saying, story, or question). Those objects of meditation have their place, but, in the days of discipline, you are the object, phrase, and koan that should be the focus of contemplation.

Now, it is our Christian tradition to give up something for Lent. In some places, it is just as important to take something on. Before you think about giving up desserts or beer, take time to observe yourself and how you relate to the world. Are there situations that trouble you? Are there relationships that just don’t click? Are there objects that sometimes appear more meaningful and important than real live human beings?

These are the days of personal inventory. I encourage you to do that inventory so you can learn about yourself and teach yourself how to give up that which keeps you from being the person God created you to be. What lesson, what teaching, is more important than that?

Joel t