Living Rarefied

Given the season, I can't think of why I didn't link the 2 ideas up.

In terms of giving things up/losing control and it currently being Lent. I am confused and need to do some research on the whole "giving it up for Lent" history. But if my inclinations are right in that the instant I give something up, there is something else ready to fill that need?

Say I was a smoker, and I gave it up for Lent. Would I not feel a need/fix to satisfy that hole somehow? Maybe I go get some Skoal to get my tobacco fix, which is ok right, since it isn't smoking? So if I am giving it up for only a short while what is the good in that.

Now I know this doesn't apply for everything. But for those people I hear giving up things for Lent that they say are bad for them. What's the point in only giving it up for Lent and not for good? Or at least making an effort to give it up for good…

I think the premise of the whole deal is sacrifice. Kind of like fasting. It isn't so much that you aren't doing, consuming that which you have given up, but it is the training of sacrifice.

So why give up something small every year? Why not take it the whole ten yards and build upon areas where God is working in our lives? I wish I had thought of this awhile ago, at least more than 1 week before the day in which "He has risen".

I guess as quickly as an idea pops in my head, my good friend Mr. Google helps me out with a numero uno search result. It is a short and concise answer to my earlier question. I searched, 'Lent giving up'. I still think we can challenge and grow from a time where we are already pinpointed into a direction of sacrifice to make more room for God to do His work in us.

Ethan testing