Addition by Subtraction

Today is Fat Tuesday. A final night of riotous living for many before they retreat into their Lenten penitence. I'll never forget a Lenten experience I had while photographing an event several years ago in Chicago on Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. 

A young woman was hurriedly finishing her work at the venue where the shoot was being held in order to join her friends for a night of Fat Tuesday frivolity (when you read frivolity think copious consumption of alcohol). It was important for her to enjoy her evening since she had committed to giving up alcohol for Lent. Early the next morning when she returned to work I noticed that she looked a bit worse for wear from a late night of celebration. Over several cups of coffee she once again affirmed she was giving up alcohol for Lent. Late that evening as the shoot came to a close I wandered by the hotel restaurant. I noticed her there bellied-up to the bar enjoying what appeared to be an adult beverage. I jokingly asked her about her Lenten pledge. I'll never forget her answer. "What does God expect, I'm only human."

In many ways that is what Lent is all about - a reminder of our mortality. Traditionally the Imposition of Ashes by marking the sign of the cross on the forehead is accompanied by these words, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return." It's a way of recalling God's words to Adam after the Fall in Genesis 3:19. Lent is a profoundly powerful liturgical season. If following Jesus is equal parts addition and subtraction as the early Christian Mystics were found of saying, then Lent is all about subtraction. What will you subtract this season in order to make room for a deeper experience of the Divine?

I considered several things as options for subtraction during this season of Lent. A popular subtraction among the highly connective computer crowd is giving up blogging for Lent. I don't blog enough for anyone to miss it. (For what it's worth, if you do want to follow my personal blog, check out asouljourney.wordpress.com). I suggested that idea to several people today. One just about began to weep at the thought; another thought it was a superb idea. Since a caffeine subtraction for Lent would only punish my family and friends and draw way too much attention, I've decided to give up "quiet time" for Lent. Now you all know that I am a huge proponent of spiritual disciplines as a means of spiritual formation. I also have voiced my concern over something that is not once cited in any part of Scripture finding its place at the top of the list of things I was taught that every good Christian ought to be doing. So I've done "quiet time" for 25 years whether I got anything from it our not. Now I recognize that while "quiet time" isn't mentioned in Scripture, the spiritual practices in which I am involved while having "quiet time" (like Bible reading, prayer and journaling) are. 

So why give up "quiet time' for Lent? I believe there is a real danger that a fixation with having a daily "quiet time" can actually end up hindering our intimacy with God. How? Quiet times, like Lenten subtractions, often intimidate people so that they give up before they get started, certain they will not be able to keep the commitment. Others avoid it because the pace of life inevitably leads to inconsistency and then to feelings of guilt believing God is disappointed and angry over their missed "quiet time." Even those of us who have developed a pattern of "quiet time" can easily get into the habit of having our "quiet time," checking it off oblivious to the fact that God wants to speak into the rest of our day as well.

I wonder what we might think if we could see it from Jesus' perspective. I love what Kallistos Ware writes in Disciplines for the Inner Life: "We are on a journey through the inward space of the heart, a journey not measured by the hours of our watch or the days of the calendar, for it is a journey out of time into eternity." I believe this Lenten season can be a journey in the very heart of the Divine - if we'll allow it to be. 

Now remember I said earlier in this post that the way of Jesus can be expressed as equal parts addition and subtraction. By subtracting my "quiet time" I've opened up space in my life for meaningful moments throughout the day. Meaningful moments is my spiritual spin-off of the two-minute miracle technique physical therapists use to help patients overcome their resistance to exercise. They tell them that when the don't want to do whatever the exercise is that they need to do, they should say that though they don't want to, they will for just two minutes. Then when they finish that, they might tell themselves the same thing again. Before they know it, they're rehab-ing longer and longer and even enjoying it! 

What if we did the same thing with spiritual disciplines? What if instead of trying to cram a "quiet time" into the chaos of our lives, we injected several of these meaningful moments throughout the day? Two or three minutes of quietness before we exit our car for the workplace. Three or four minutes of prayer while we enjoy a mid-morning break. A short passage of Scripture written on a card to read while our call is on hold. Even a ten-minute journaling time during lunch. Perhaps they will foster a more intimate connection with God than our well-ordered "quiet times" this Lenten season. If you are interested in this approach, please email me and I will be glad to share ideas with you throughout the next 40 days.