Are you observing Lent?

Lent? Isn't that a Catholic thing? Doesn't that have something to do with not eating fish on Friday?

Sure, fish and the Catholic church have something to do with Lent. But bigger than that, Lent is the season that the whole church sets aside to do a bit of "Spring Cleaning" in our souls.

Our souls, you see, get cluttered. We do things, think things, and believe things that get in our way. Think about your relationship with your TV: on the one hand, there are lots of good things you can get from TV. On the other hand, your TV can become a huge time vacuum. After a while, your TV can clutter your soul. And TV isn't the only thing that can clutter your soul. Food can clutter one's soul, along with certain relationships, and different habits that you do. Another big clutter-er of the soul is our attitude. Anything that blocks you from loving God and neighbor fully is a soul-clutter-er.

Lent is the season -- 40 days before Lent -- when we say, "OK, I'm going to de-clutter my soul." We do this by choosing one thing, the cluttering thing, and fasting from that thing. If your soul is cluttered by a certain food (say, dessert), stop eating it for 40 days. If your TV blocks your relationship with God, give it up for a season. If saying "NO" to everything that comes your way blocks your relationship with God, put on a 40-day "NO"-moratorium. If criticizing your spouse is a huge problem in your relationship, resolve to say nothing negative to your spouse for 40 days.

Will you observe Lent this year? Will you take time to sweep away all the clutter that has clogged up your soul? You'll be blessed if you do.