Lent is the time where we lift things up and put them down.  Some choose to pick up a habit during this time, others drop one. Both are valuable. Both should be embraced.

Perhaps you are being called to lift certain practices:

Local volunteer work

Calling your mother (daily, weekly, more than currently don’t)

Reading your Bible

Complimenting others without expecting anything in return

Engage in positive self-talk

Humility and meekness

Showing up at church

Seeing a therapist, pastor, doctor regularly

Eating healthy

(Doing whatever that thing is which you been avoiding)

Perhaps you are being called to put certain things down

Addictions of all kinds: caffeine, alcohol, social media, marijuana, gossip, impulse buying (etc.)

Misplaced shame, guilt, and regret

Wandering eyes

Lying, cheating, stealing

Discontent

Abusive relationships (of all kinds)

The crippling lies you tell yourself

Being a dick to people.

(To stop that thing you know you should be avoiding)

We take up or give up, lift or put down, for specific purposes, but whichever we choose, the important thing is remembering that Lent is not about self-improvement—it is not New Year’s take two, a time to re-up on failed resolutions— it is about drawing closer to God’s will for your community, for the church, for the world.

While this time of forming habits of mind and body will last beyond the 46 days until Easter, it is about much more than impacting the our individual lives. We put down so that when the desire for the thing dropped arises, we are reminded of what, of Who we have set it aside for. It is an icon instantly transporting our minds to the will of the Person we serve and the communities we cherish. We take things up for the same reason: an act of devotion for The Ultimate good beyond ourselves.

We lift things up and put them down in to make the Kingdom of God more present in this world, which begins with it being made present in our daily thoughts and actions.

World without end. 

PS. A fan sent us this winning hand