By Rick Meidel
I grew up Lutheran. When I was younger, all I remember about Lenten sacrifice was enduring fish sticks every Friday in the school cafeteria thanks to the Catholics. As I got a little older, I might joke that I was giving up brussels sprouts or maybe liver & onions for Lent! But as a maturing adult, I’ve become more intentional during Lent. The past two years, I’ve made the sacrifice to give up alcohol.
I’m not going to lie. I have a stressful job and a glass of good wine in the evenings is a true pleasure for me. Giving that up seems like a real sacrifice. Last year, with COVID in its early stages at the start of Lent, the sacrifice seemed quite manageable. But the pandemic got worse quickly. More stress. I made it, barely, though I admit I was looking for serious clarification at the end as to whether Lent was over as of the Last Supper, or Good Friday, or Saturday. Surely I didn’t have to wait until Easter Sunday!
This year, not long after deciding to make the same sacrifice, my Catholic friend educated me that Sundays were not part of Lent. Sunday was for rejoicing in the upcoming resurrection of our Lord. I liked the sound of that! Sunday Funday just took on a whole new meaning! It was a few days later when Natalie and I decided to pick up a salad for dinner from Fire Tap. When we walked in, we saw the much-coveted (in our house) annual Iditarod beer glass. It’s free with a pint purchase! But it was a Wednesday. I wondered whether God would forgive me this transgression. Maybe I could swap Wednesday for Sunday. Just this once. I could ask. I was about to pull the trigger when Natalie pointed to the poster. In smaller print, glasses alone were $3. Ha! Take that Satan! I’ll take two! My Lenten sacrifice was still on track!
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13
I had been given a way out. However, the thought of swapping Wednesday for Sunday seemed childish. More embarrassing, was the thought of bringing such a “deal” before God. Do any of you make such foolish vows or requests to God? The Rev. Robert Haley, pastor of First United Methodist in Newport News, says we should consider our “foxhole prayers.” These are prayers made in crisis situations or when we desperately want something. Many of us have uttered such prayers. We promise God certain behavior if God will simply fulfill our request: "God heal me and I'll be in church every Sunday." Or we promise to stop inappropriate behavior.
Such promises are inherently problematic. Why should God bargain with us for something we should or should not be doing before the crisis or need arose? Ironically, folks who make foxhole prayers often renege on their end of the bargain. Often these folks pray only when they are in the “foxhole." We should pray without the need to control the outcome. We should pray with the faith to accept God's will. Prayer should seek the highest good that only God knows. We do not know God's will nor do we know ultimately what is best for us or our loved ones. Christians who incorporate prayer as a daily practice learn to pray with an attitude of surrender; they have an attitude of "Thy Will Be Done." These are prayers from the heart given as a child of God. A fearful prayer uttered with a desperate, bargaining with God mentality is a prayer of mistrust. God will take care of us and our loved ones even if we do not understand His will.
The period of Lent is long indeed. There are times when I wonder if I can honor my commitment. There’s more bad news. More pain. More discord. More hate. Less harmony. It’s enough to drive a person to drink! Perhaps there’s a deal to be made. God, what do you think?!
I have considered my Lenten sacrifice to be significant. But then I remind myself of Jesus’ sacrifice and what he did for me. Suffered. Died. Suddenly, my sacrifice isn’t significant at all. With this revelation, I find myself in deepest prayer during the Lenten season. Yes, I most definitely miss my glass of wine. But my sacrifice as a comparison to the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord? It’s humbling in that context. And so, I pray not to “make it through” but instead I pray for wisdom and understanding and learning.
The Lenten season can be a season of growth. With deeper prayer, a deeper spiritual relationship results. Now that’s a deal! And, as Christian Today points out, making sacrifices is not limited to the season of Lent; it’s something that we’re called to do continuously. A genuine sacrifice can take many forms, but it has to be something that has value to us. By sacrificing the things that we can’t do without, we’re rewarded by God with the very things that we cannot live without in this life and in eternity.
“But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed, I will make good. I will say, ’Salvation comes from the Lord’.” - Jonah 2:9
Heavenly Father, help us to be intentional in our sacrifice. Help us to remember that it’s less about what we sacrifice and more about the reflection of our sacrifice against the ultimate sacrifice of your Son, our Lord. Help us to have that deeper relationship with you. Help us to lead a life that is pleasing to you; imperfect at times, but always with good intent. Help us. In your Son’s name we pray, Amen.
Rick Meidel, his wife Natalie and daughter Sarah have attended St. John UMC since 2018. Rick can be reached at meidy@me.com or 832-418-9200.
