Lent Approacheth

Lent is coming, and the pre-Lenten season (the "gesima" Sundays) are the time to start thinking seriously about a Lenten discipline. I usually recommend very simple disciplines. Instead of making some grand promise like, "I am not going to drink or smoke during Lent," (a promise that you'll break in the first few days, no doubt), I recommend cutting back on things like that - maybe not doing them or enjoying them on certain days. I also think it is good to add disciplines and devotions during Lent - doing something as a part of your overall discipline. You have to start small in the spiritual life. Nothing is more sad than seeing folk try to make big spiritual changes in their life when they can't make them in even a small way.

I am going to read the Bible for one hour every day for a year. Really? What makes you think you can do that when you can't read it for one hour once a month?

I am going to enter an austere religious order to learn how to love God and people better? Really? What makes you think you can do that when you can't even love your next door neighbor or your family?

I am going to fast all day today - eating nothing! Really? What makes you think you can do that when you have never so much as gone without lunch?

I do not mean to disparage those who make spiritual vows and promises (even big ones), during Lent and at other times, but we need to work up to the bigger commitments. If we can't do the small things, we will not be able to do the big things. We may even hurt ourselves spiritually in the process! 

Growth in holiness is by very small and boring, uneventful steps. He who is faithful in the smallest things will be given charge over larger things. We can't play Bach until we earn to play scales. We would do well to start small and work up to greater disciplines. Master the small things and then go on to the larger things.