God Doesn't Want Your Chocolate

Last week I went to a Christian Educators Luncheon that talked about what we need to be doing as Christian Educators to prepare folks for Lent.  The lady leading the luncheon said something that has stuck with me.  She said "God doesn't want your chocolate, God wants your hearts.  Lent is about making space for God, not just giving up a vice."  It is not an exact quote, but it still stuck with me. 

Every year when Lent rolls around, I get frustrated with the church.  Too many of us approach Lent as a second chance at New Years resolutions, giving up something superficial.  But it seems few of us really are taking the opportunity to make more space for reflection.  Few of us are making more space for prayer.  Few of us are making more space for God. 

I hear about folks giving up soda, sweets, fried foods, and other things like that and I wonder if they've really gotten the point of Lent.  Full disclosure...all three of those things are things that I have given up for Lent before.  Looking back, I can see that I missed the point of Lent.

Lent is about making space and if you look at most folks schedules...it is clear that we all need to make more space for God.  We live in a culture where there is an expectation to always be busy.  If you are not busy, you are seen as lazy.  We are not a culture that "sits" well, and few of us are comfortable with stillness and quietness. 

However, its my experience that God shows up during the stillness and quietness.  It is not that God is not present at other times, it might be that I just finally notice God's presence when I slow down a bit.  I know that as we begin Lent today, I need to examine my schedule and make time for God.  Sadly, there is very little time in my schedule where I have intentionally carved out time for God.  Usually when I do carve out that time for God...that time is the first to go when my schedule gets busy and my time gets hectic. 

This is usually the point where folks retort back with "I don't want to just give God an hour of my day, I need to give him my whole life.  I try to focus my whole life on God."  While that is true...I also usually feel the need to throw out the "yeah right" card.  Everything we do should be focused on God, but you cannot tell me that the world doesn't distract you at times. 

If there is anything I have learned from marriage over the last two years, it is that just being present in the room with Amy does not mean I am spending time focused on her.  There are many times where we are together, but I am very much not present.  I don't think the solution is to just carve out "quality" time with Amy.  I believe that "quality" time only comes in "quantity" time...but I do believe that for our marriage to be successful, there are times I need to clear everything else away and focus only on her.

Our relationship with God is no different.  We need to make space for God.  We need to carve out specific time for God.  Lent is about preparing.  Lent is about reflecting.  Lent is about praying.  Giving up chocolate may be something you need to do, but if you are not doing it to make space for God in your life...what is the point? 

As you think about "giving up" something for Lent, be intentional about making sure it is something that will allow you to make more space for God.