What are you giving up for Lent? That’s the question that we ask or answer in the days leading to Ash Wednesday. Many of us give up a favorite treat, or swearing, or whisky. Some people use Lent as a great opportunity to slim down before swimsuit season.
These are not bad practices, but I think we have to look behind these decisions, in order to test our motivation. Giving up something, like food or drink, is likely good for us, and comes closer to the traditional act of fasting during Lent. Other common practices for Lent include prayer and reflection, and almsgiving, or giving to those less fortunate.
If we choose to refrain from food, drink, and our other weaknesses, are we only acting in our own self-interest? If we have committed to do things for our inner life only, or our appearance or general improvement, we are falling short of the Lenten objective. In Lent, we work towards amendment of life through sacrifice and prayer, and supporting the poor.
Lent allows us to reflect on our shortcomings and to give to others who are on the margins. Almsgiving is a critical part of our Lenten rituals as we head to the renewal of Easter.
Support Keeping Women and Girls Safe from the Start
This week, we celebrated International Women’s Day. Take some time to go to this link for the Episcopal Public Policy Network. US Senators – Republicans and Democrats alike – have joined together to create Senate Bill S. 765.
The passage of S. 765 would expand our “Safe from the Start Initiative.” Presently, the US Department of State and the US Agency to International Aid (USAID) have partnered to do this vital work. Their joint efforts will be able to respond more quickly to humanitarian crises involving gender-based violence, here and abroad.
EPPN reports that “Globally an estimated 1 in 3 women has experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse in their lifetime.”
When you get to the EPPN link, click the “Take action” button, and you can fill in your name, address and ZIP code. The website uses your ZIP code to automatically match you with your senators. You will find a written script to send, or you can certainly write your own. I just did it, and it was easy as pie.
The message provided comes from an Episcopalian perspective, but you can change that language, or check out your own denomination’s public policy department.
Making donations to organizations that support women and girls is another wonderful form of giving alms.
The important thing is to do it now, today, or as soon as you can. This is a great opportunity to join the host of saints who came before us to give alms for the poor – it’s just in a different format. Senators need to hear from us even if they vote the way we want. They use these statistics from our engagement to support the votes they make on the senate floor.
Women and girls in the US and around the world are suffering, and they need us to speak up.
Blessings on your Lenten journey.
