To do or not to do? That isn't the question.

Since Lent began this year, I’ve been reflecting on the many practices I have taken up during this season in the past. They generally fall into two categories: things I will not do, and things I will do. 

On the “not-to-do” list, over the years (though not all at once!), I have given up chocolate, caffeine, and TV, to name a few. On the “to-do” list, I have taken up eco-friendly practices, random acts of kindness, and intentional rhythms of prayer. 

I have been blessed by both ‘lists’. I have learned more about caring for creation, witnessed how people respond to kindness, and experienced the blessing that comes through consistent prayer - for myself and for those I have been praying for. 

However, I must admit that I have sometimes focused more on the challenge itself than on the journey with the Spirit - more attentive to what I am doing than to how the Spirit wants to shape me. 

A good example of this was a few years ago when I gave up caffeine. The first week was difficult, with headaches, insomnia, exhaustion, and mental fog before my body adjusted. But once I navigated those symptoms, the journey became easier. I reached the end of Lent and completed the challenge! To celebrate, I treated myself to a very weak coffee - my taste buds had changed by then. 

As I sipped it, I felt a quiet conviction and found myself asking, “What was the point of the fasting? What did fasting from caffeine have to do with my faith?” It dawned on me that I had been so focused on completing the fast that I had failed to reflect on how God wanted to shape me through it. In the weeks that followed, while sipping a little more coffee, I took time to pray and reflect. During that time, God revealed deeper insight into the pace of my life, how I was sustaining it and what was driving my action. This led me into new rhythms that, with the Spirit’s help, I continue to practice today. 

As I further reflect on my two approaches to Lent, I see that both the “doing” and “not-doing” approaches are still centred on changing my actions. Recently, I have been reading a book exploring the theme of patience and how this was more important to the early church than mission strategies. 

This has challenged me to think beyond action and consider the way I am being. Action is important, but Jesus is deeply concerned with our way of being and who we are becoming. 

Galatians 5:22–23 beautifully shows how the fruit of the Spirit reflects a Christ-like way of being rooted in God, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” 

As I journey through Lent this year, I want to be more mindful of how I am being less focused on what I accomplish, and more attentive to who I am becoming in Him. 

I pray that, in your own Lenten journey, whether you have a ‘to-do’ or ‘not-to-do’ practice - or none at all - you hear the Spirit speaking to you and shaping the way you are being.   

Sam Abramian

Director: East of England