Set Out

Once again this year I will be participating through Lent in #40acts.

Why?

Because, if I'm honest I can be a very self centred individual who needs to think out wards a bit more, give a little more - if you know what I mean.

I keep this Blog each year as a bit of an accountability tool but this year I am grateful to have someone else keeping me accountable, I will get a call or email each week from one of my friends, Carl, who will ask me if I'm being generous... And I don't know when he will contact me so there is a bit of jeopardy involved as well!

Yesterday, as well as getting Carl on board, I drew up two lists, where it can be generous and we here in know I can be selfish, they aren't exhaustive lists and I guess I will add to them through Lent.

If you feel I can help you with anything - please ask, I want to be generous in every sense, time, emotions, talents and so on.

So thanks #40acts and thanks Carl! Let's see what happens...

Lean into Lent

I joined a mailing list on shrove Tuesday (www.40acts.org.uk) - no pancake for me as I was travelling.

A mailing list that promoted forty days of action throughout this traditional season of abstinence. 

Of course the world has forgotten the purpose of the forty days of fasting from the rush and the sweet: that we should focus on the spiritual, not the physical, for this season, and, securing the benefits, we approach Easter Day better people to receive the grace of forgiveness and new life through Christ.

These days the Lenten fast seems to be more about wallowing in our own virtue ("how will I manage without chocolate for 40 days" answer: quite easily if you stopped thinking about yourself), rather than focussing inwardly and become deeper indiviuals as a result.

So this 'do something' 'fast' is really an antidote to the self indulgence of the literal fast: do something everyday for the next forty days that is not required of you but is an act from a generous spirit and see how that has a lasting impact.

Finally, these are not random acts of kindness, they are deliberate, intentional acts of generosity. Rake a few moments at the conclusion of each day to consider if you gave brought light into someone else's life.

Join me, please, on this journey towards Easter by leaning into Lent.