We’re a distracted culture.

I know, that sounds like the understatement of the century.

Even the most focused and diligent of us can fall victim to the scattered chaos of our time. It’s a thing.

But there was a time not long ago where it seemed like everything came to a stop. It was a time of great uncertainty and fear, but it was a little bit of a refreshing pause. I’m talking about 2020.

When the pandemic hit in full stride and lockdowns were in full-swing, there was nothing going on. I talked to so many people during that period that spoke of how refreshing it was to just pause and not bounce from thing to thing.

Even in the midst of the uncertain pandemic, it was actually really nice to find some rest.

I think for me, that’s how I approach a season of Lent.

Now I’ll start with this: I’m not usually a “Lent person.” Whatever that means. I’ve never really observed a season of Lent.

I grew up about as Baptist as they come, so traditional liturgy and anything resembling ancient orthodoxy is scary. (Not to say that Baptists don’t also have their own scary traditions and liturgy, but that’s another conversation…)

Lent has simply never been something that has interested me. But I find myself more and more intrigued but the idea.

True to the scattered nature of our culture, here are a few scattered thoughts about Lent.

Lent Is a Time of Without

One of the best decisions I ever made was to get rid of my personal Facebook. The benefits of keeping up with people didn’t outweigh the time wasted by endless scrolling, the blood pressure hikes from reading crazy opinions, and the temptation to compare.

For me, mental health and productivity only improved when I kicked it. Of course, I’ve moved on to all kinds of other distractions and time-wasters—we’re all works in progress by the grace of God.

But for me, I experienced something akin to addition by subtraction. My spiritual and personal life improved greatly by simply subtracting a tiny little app from my life.

Maybe you’re kind of like I used to be when it comes to approaching Lent. I would always just think, “Hey, my relationship with God is fine. I’ll focus on it every day and that’s good, I don’t need a special time to focus on Him.”

Don’t get me wrong, that’s all good and noble. But I think you’ll find there are benefits to committing the next 6 weeks to suspending an old habit and forming a new one: a new habit that places God at the center.

Lent Is a Refreshing Pause in the Midst of Something Terrible

The more I’ve meditated on Lent over the last few weeks, the more I keep drawing parallels to what many of us experienced during the height of the pandemic in 2020.

It was a time of fear, uncertainty, and despair for people across the globe.

Many of us were forced into a kind of involuntary season of withholding. We were simply forced by our circumstances to cut certain comforts from our lives.

Here’s the crazy thing though: so many people I talked to actually found it refreshing. Sure, we missed being able to do the “normal” things we had, but there was a kind of beautiful peace in the midst of the chaos. We finally had permission to pause.

Spending more intentional, focused time with family was a breath of fresh air. Rather than bouncing from thing to thing and event to event like a junebug on an espresso shot, we were allowed (or forced) to stop for a moment and simply be.

People I talked to absolutely loved that unintended consequence of the lockdowns. While fear and uncertainty were high and terrible things were happening across the globe, there was a small concession in the turmoil. The smallest amount of solace in the storm.

For me, Lent is kind of like that. As we reflect on the storm of sin and the chaos of a broken world, we have permission to pause.

Think about the life of Jesus and everything that led to that moment on the cross. Think about where the disciples were.

Their closest friend and mentor over the last three years, God in the flesh, was suddenly stripped away from them in a mock trial that could only end one way.

They were ripped out of normal by forces they couldn’t control and were left in the without. But even in that moment, God was preparing those men and women to change the world.

A few days later, as 120 of them gathered to wait for the answer, they were rewarded with Jesus.

I dare you to rip away normal and wait for Jesus.

Lent and Holy Saturday

Lent may be a new thing for me, but I have always been fascinated by Holy Saturday. I love taking time to pause and place myself in the shoes of the disciples on that day.

What would it have been like? What an unparalleled testing of faith!

In that quiet moment, that day between, when all there was left to hold to was a promise.

Was the last three years a waste? Did I follow this man for nothing? Did everything just end before my eyes? How do I know that He was right?

It must have been the longest day ever.

But they didn’t give up. They gathered together for prayer, for worship, and community.

In a time of uncertainty and waiting, they lifted their eyes to the heavens and sought the face of God.

Lent can very much be a symbol of that Holy Saturday. We are in the waiting even now.

Someday God will restore this crazy world and make all things new. But for now, we can pause and rest in His promise. For me, that’s a really practical way to meditate on the themes of Lent.

Should You Observe Lent?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

It’s not prescribed in Scripture. It’s a tradition that many have held for centuries, but it’s a tradition that many have fought against for centuries as well.

It’s an optional thing and a personal thing.

If you’re looking for a cut and dry answer, you won’t find one here, because I think it’s really a personal choice. Additionally, the method and mode of observing this season is totally a personal choice as well.

For me, I am looking at these next six weeks as a kind of springtime Advent season. I am waiting and watching for the cross. I want to set my heart toward Jesus and take extra time and steps to focus on Him as we look toward celebrating His resurrection on Easter.

Will I specifically fast from any particular thing? Probably not. And that’s okay. I simply want to refocus my heart on Christ and fan the flames of devotion in a different way. I want to keep a keen eye to how I spend my time and energy. I want those things to point to Jesus.

Will you join me?