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DON'T GIVE UP ON ANYTHING!

Michael Turner, Vicar of the Close (Monday 24th January 2005)

There has hardly been time to put away the Christmas decorations, especially if you believe in celebrating for 40 days, before the moment arrives to dust off the Lent rules and start the 40 day climb to Calvary. Lent from February 9th will certainly catch you by surprise this year if you are not careful. Here is the Rough Guide to last minute Lent for those who have seriously under- planned their penitence.

Have a different Lent this year for a start, a no giving-up 40 days of progress. Giving up things makes people so irritable. People who have made their vow to refrain from alcohol (you can usually spot them gazing forlornly through Threshers’ windows) or chocolate or any of the things which we know are basically good for morale often become grumbly negative folk who wish time away until Easter feasting begins. Don’t give up anything!

Repentance means turning around and in our puritanical way we often think that this means turning our backs on things we enjoy. Perhaps a more Christ-centred approach might be to turn towards matters we should confront or alter, improve or amend. So don’t give up, take a grip in those aspects of living which are due for improvement. 40 days of praise rather than any negative thinking; 40 days of real enthusiasm for everything, for life, rather than simply abstaining; 40 days of looking outward to see what needs addressing in our world, rather than inward-looking sanctity.

For example, the tragic events of South East Asia so much in our January prayers give a clear signal to our life’s priorities. Why do tragedies on this scale always take us by surprise, and why do we have to rely upon spontaneous generosity rather than planned systematic guaranteed immediate aid? Surely the time has come for the West to look over the parapet and plan and prepare to help our neighbours. The proposed moratorium upon the debts poorer countries owe us should not be a reaction to disaster but a consistent gesture which we, so prosperous, owe our, so needy, debtors.

We may not be able to take much of a grip on matters of world importance during this 40 day window of brief opportunity but there is something about each of our lives which we could actively improve. Taking on a programme of positive growth may leave us less time for alcohol and chocolates anyway. As for me, I am going to try to love 4 x 4 drivers, the mountain-rescue teams of Alderbury as someone put it. And, for me, that won’t be easy!

May your Lent be happy and productive

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