“Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
1 Corinthians 7:5
The Super Bowl, professional football’s championship and the glitziest day of the American sports calendar, was played a short time ago and a new championship team has been crowned. The pomp, parties and parades are over and now the quieter offseason has arrived. There was a time when the offseason was a time for professional athletes to slack off for a few months and not worry so much about staying in shape. Heck, that’s what training camp is for!
But now, the offseason is precisely the time for fuller commitment. It’s when athletes of all ages and skill levels prepare and build themselves for what lies ahead. They look back at the past year, determine what went well and what didn’t, and then rededicate themselves to reaching their goals. This time is important for all teams and athletes; but especially for the motivated ones who didn’t reach the top, because they know they must dig deeper to get where they want to go.
Lent, to me, is like the modern offseason for Christians. None of us reach the top. In this life, we all fall short of glory because we are all imperfect. We want to draw closer to God and work on ourselves in meaningful ways and Lent gives us the time and space to do that. This is our opportunity to prepare and build ourselves spiritually for the seasons that lie ahead.
It’s been that way since the beginning. The Ash Wednesday service in our Book of Common Prayer elucidates that the earliest of Christians prepared for the Lord’s passion and resurrection by ‘observing a season of penitence and fasting’, and that Lent also prepared new converts for baptism. To fully appreciate the Easter season that celebrates Christ’s resurrection and ascension to glory– the basis of our salvation–and to simply be more loving and respectful to others, we must first look inward. What can I do to draw closer to God and be an encouragement to others, which in turn increases my genuine joy and peace?
Recognizing my shortcomings and asking God to forgive my sins is a big part of these forty days. This penitence is not meant to tear us down, but rather to build us up, because we feel God’s grace and mercy in greater measure. Honestly, there is no time of year when I feel more Christian, more connected to God, and it’s because of our heightened recognition of our need for God.
Reassessment and rededication are part of offseason, but so is putting in the work to improve. There is nothing better than increased prayer, meditation, and study to build our spiritual strength and agility. In addition, many of us give up something for Lent, or perhaps add a new good habit. Lenten sacrifices that people make seem to run the spectrum from trivial to serious; but I think they all have value. Something as small as giving up chocolate keeps one mindful that we are in this season of penitence. Penitence that is followed by spiritual growth and improvement. For me, that revolves around practicing better judgment and self-control. That is why I give up the same thing every year—puns.
Yes, puns.
They have always come naturally to me, but sometimes they can be fast and furious from mind to mouth. Sometimes they are welcomed and appreciated, other times, well… Trust me, making the conscious decision to not say puns and instead keep them to myself for 47 straight days can be tough. But it forces me to be more cognizant of others and to think (even more) before I speak—two spiritual muscles groups that can always use strengthening. I may focus on other areas from one year to the next, but for me, verbal discipline is a constant. As James 3:8-9 says,
“(B)ut no one can tame the tongue – and restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.”
Yes, Lent is a time for increased awareness of our shortcomings. We are genuinely sorry for them and we ask for forgiveness. But like a sports league’s offseason, it’s also our time to begin again. Yes, I make mistakes but what am I going to do about it? I will pray, meditate, listen to and heed what God tells me and do what I can to improve on my faults as I continue to build on my strengths. Ultimately, with God’s help, I will be victorious.
And you will, too.
—The Rev. James Tyree
St. John’s, Norman