I grew up as a Presbyterian (and still am), but I don’t recall any traditions from my family involving Lent. When I got older, many of my Catholic friends gave up something for Lent. I tried it a few times, but it didn’t seem to hold any spiritual or religious significance to me. In 1999, Sarah was attending Boston University, and we were lucky enough to hear Peter Gomes preach at Harvard Chapel on several occasions, once during Lent. Gomes suggested (and I have since heard other preachers suggest the same), that instead of giving up for Lent, that you take on something on.

I picked up his pamphlet “How to Keep a Good Lent,” and have used it every year since. He suggests you organize your observance of Lent (if you do, in fact, observe Lent) around three S’s:  Silence, Study, and Service. His plan is very doable. Although I find this the most difficult of the three, Gomes proposes that you “secure fifteen minutes of absolute silence during at least one day each week in Lent.” One day a week I can do, and I usually try for two or three. Study is easier for me, and I typically choose a book I want to read during Lent. Again Gomes suggests reading or studying just one day a week for fifteen minutes. I definitely spend more that fifteen minutes a week on this, and my goal is to finish a book. This year I’ve chosen Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World. 

I’ve previously read her book Leaving Church as well as a book of her sermons. She writes beautifully and always raises important questions for me about my faith. In addition, I’ll try to get to some of the Thursday Lenten Sermon discussions at my church. I went to most of them last year. The discussions were lively and thoughtful. This year our church is focusing on a theme of “water” during Lent, so each of the sermons chosen for discussion incorporates that theme. We’re also doing an all-church read of “A River Runs Through It.” I have a library copy on my shelf to read.

Gomes’ third “S” is Service. He lists a series of questions to answer: “Where can you do some good? Who needs your help? What might you do if, for instance, you have spare change? Is there some person or place waiting for your particular skills and graces? Thinking soberly and creatively about these things for fifteen minutes each week is time well spent, and very well spent indeed if it leads you to action.” I try to add to my volunteer commitments during Lent. In the past, I’ve taken on some that remained longer term, but this year I’m looking to do some shorter term projects. One that I’ve already started is to devote some time each Saturday helping to pack boxes at church for storage during a major renovation project that begins in March.

And one more frivolous intention for Lent is to get to Donuts Delite for their hot-cross buns. They are reputed to have the best in the city, but I’ve never had one. Tracy and I are planning to go to the public market tomorrow, and I’m hoping for a stop there on our way home. Since I’m the only one who eats them, making them or buying a whole pack at the grocery store (Wegmans’ are not bad) is not a good idea. One will do.