I’m going to the SPA for Lent
Lent starts this coming Wednesday. My past Lents have pretty much looked like this---I’d give up coffee or sweets and stop eating meat on Fridays. I knew the Church wanted me to focus on fasting, prayer, and almsgiving but I never could stick with anything for the full 40 days. Despite my best efforts, Lent would get away from me and Easter would be here before I knew it.
This year, I’m planning something totally different. I’m so excited about the idea that I’ve already started doing it. It’s called SPA or Sacrifice, Prayer, and Almsgiving. SPA is unique because it links all three aspects of Lent in a unique and practical way. Let me explain…
Sacrifice: I commit each day to make a sacrifice. It doesn’t need to be the same thing every day but it does need to have a monetary value. Each time I make a sacrifice, I record the date and the value of that sacrifice. (I use the Notes app on my phone to keep track). For instance, Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting so I won’t be eating breakfast or lunch. Those would have cost me about $10. So, I’ll record $10 for 2/14/24.
Prayer: Throughout the time I’m doing SPA, I pray daily for God to show me different ways I can sacrifice. In addition, I ask Him how he wants me to use the money that’s being accumulated. Perhaps, I’ll donate everything to charity at the end of Lent. But God may have other plans for that money. So, I need to be open each day to his guidance. He may want me to use some of it to help the homeless man I pass every day on the way to work or to pay for the car behind me in the drive thru. The key is to be open to what He wants.
Almsgiving: This is the easiest part (or for a cheapskate like me, the hardest part). I donate the money from SPA in whatever way God is calling me. It’s that simple!
Some people tell me they don’t see the point in giving something up for Lent. Instead, they feel it’s better to do good works. I say, why not do both? Commit to 40 days at the SPA and see what happens.
Here is a sample of what the first few days of Lent could look like using SPA.
As you can see, the possibilities for different types of sacrifices are endless and the money can really add up quickly!