Anticipating springtime, we draw near a wondrous season of sacred reflection and celebration. We remember Christ’s suffering, his sacrifice on the cross, and his triumph over sin and grave. Across the centuries, Christ-followers have encountered deep meaning through the observance of Lent.

Although I grew up in a devoted Christian home, my family’s branch of Christianity did not engage in this pre-Easter practice. Only in recent years has my appreciation grown for the potential significance of this ritual and rhythm on the church calendar.

What’s Lent Really About?

During a forty-day span leading up to Easter, Christians choose to fast from something(s) in sacrificial devotion and worship.

While Lent is never commanded in scripture, practitioners find biblical examples of forty-day stretches of fasting, like Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Mk. 1:12-13 NLT) and Moses’ solitude on the mountain (Deut. 9:9 NLT). Following such examples, people choose to give up an indulgence like chocolate, meat, coffee, other drinks, or perhaps shopping, screen time, even various addictive vices.

Today’s go-to view often assumes Lent to be all about personal denial, just giving up some pleasurable personal preference in order to observe the season. What if there’s more?

In reality, Lent holds even more marvelous meaning and reaches beyond self-denial. Micah Fries encourages us to embrace Lent as “a reminder of the mystery of the faith. It’s a strong, compelling call to abandon self and to run to Christ . . . Fasting, moderation, repentance and the practice of the spiritual disciplines are things we need more of, not less. For the average Christian, these things rarely, if ever, seem to happen.”

Lenten season, observed with right motives and a full heart, can motivate us to run to Christ and more readily practice the spiritual disciplines. Holy heart postures and faithful practices draw us closer to Christ and conform us more to Jesus’ image for the sake of others.

Lunch & Lent

In recent years, I have found very little value in temporarily giving up some sensational pleasure like Snickers bars or T-bone steaks. I am certainly not giving up coffee. I tried that one year; my own unholy grump was not good for my family or coworkers. Not good at all.

While we might garner some fleeting personal sense of accomplishment by making it forty days without indulging, that’s not really the point. Lent’s holy aim should be intentional redirection of focused affection. Then, we find focus to draw closer and develop deeper, more humble devotion to King Jesus. The resulting Christlikeness in us can then influence others—for their good and for his glory!

I’ll propose something more involved and unique. I’m also going to challenge you to join me. Fasting across an hour, at least one lunch each week, can serve to arrest my senses and redirect my heart’s focus. Redirection is the key. Would you join me this year? Skip that meal and swap for a different, healthy, holy practice. Replace the food by engaging in one of the following activities:

• Walk outside, do multiple laps around your workplace, praise your Creator for spring (or anticipation of springtime) and pray for fresh creativity in you and your team’s current projects.
• If it’s a chilly day, saunter through office halls. Pray silently by name for coworkers as you pass work stations, asking the Lord to work in and through them with his grace and goodness.
• Call on God for tangible blessings, genuine flourishing, and increased productivity in your business’s current endeavors.
• Drive a short distance to serve in a community endeavor during your lunch hour.
• Assist someone on your team, aiming to serve them by lending help on a difficult task or supplying consultation on a project.
• Meet with a coworker you don’t really know. Ask questions. Share stories. Enjoy deepening connections.
• Make a gratitude list. Fill a page (or two or three) in a notebook or journal. While fasting, feast on all your blessings. Make the hour a springtime Thanksgiving!

You are already familiar with having “Lunch and Learn.” How about this twist? Will you join me for “Lunch and Lent?”

Reimagining

In The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer observed:

“Jesus takes it for granted that his disciples will observe the pious custom of fasting. Strict exercise of self-control is an essential feature of the Christian’s life. Such customs have only one purpose—to make the disciples more ready and cheerful to accomplish those things which God would have done.”

Bonhoeffer was referencing Jesus’ rich instruction on fasting (Matt. 6:16-18 NLT). After all, in seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness, we discover the King’s ample supply of all we truly need (Matt. 6:33 NLT).

Let’s make Lent all about redirection for renewal, to become more like Jesus for the sake of others. Let’s reimagine how Lent might affect our workplaces and our coworkers—for Christ and the advancement of his kingdom.