Many a Friday night when we were in high school, Carolyn, Erica and I would go grab a pizza before hanging out with various other friends. But, during Lent...no pepperoni pie at Pizza Hut. During Lent...two piece fish in a tray with extra batter crumbly things...at Long John Silver's.
I was cool with this as I'm a good eater regardless of what's in the feed bag you strap on me. And supporting my friend's was also cool as we all loved God and hey, we were all about LYLAS. We were abbreviating long before texting. You know...LYLAS..."love ya' like a sister"? Come on. You knew that, right?
Well, it seems that in the church world today, everybody is talking a lot more about Lent...regardless of denominational affiliation. And anytime people are highlighting all that Christ has done for us...both my thumbs are way up!
But, just as we decide each December that the joy of Christmas (that overwhelming feeling we have at the thought of God coming to this crusty planet in the form of one of us...to ultimately give of Himself to save us...) should be something we experience all year long, I've been thinking along the same lines about the sacrifice of Easter. That overwhelming feeling we have at the thought of God coming to this crusty planet in the form of one of us...to ultimately give of Himself to save us. Oh, I already typed that, didn't I? Good. Meant to.
For some reason this week, not only have I been drawn to Philippians 2 in the New Testament, but I found out just a little bit ago that my hubby and youngest son have been camping there a bit as well. Every time I struggle with too many thoughts of myself and too little anything for anyone else...this chapter snaps me out of it. As Lent is that lining oneself up with Christ's example of prayer, fasting and self-denial, Philippians 2 is a powerful reminder that we should be lining ourselves up with His example every second of our lives. Not just during this amazing season.
Struggling with self? Who isn't? (If you just said, "I'm not!" then I will write a blog next year entitled, "Long John Silver's with LYLAS for Lent and All You Liars Out There"...) We are, after all, flawed beings on this crusty planet. But, because of a great and loving Creator, Savior, Healer, Friend, we are hopeful beings on this crusty planet who have been called to be carriers of an incredible gift found through this example...
"Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His advantage; rather He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:6-8
Ah, Lent. I still LYLAS my girls and if I could fly Erica in from Boston and get Carolyn and I out of our respective school duties at decent times, I would happily drive us all to Long John Silver's tomorrow night. But, even if that can't happen, how cool is it that we can still all remember and follow Christ's example of self-sacrifice and giving of ourselves not just at Lent, but all year long. All life long.
www.diaryofacavewoman.com
Great post! ahhh LJS....The "fish" there was actually pretty terrible, but the crustiness surrounding the fish and the hush puppies were YUM-ME. Thanks for the fun memory! :-)
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