Dear Lenten Pilgrims,

Last year, I gave up coffee for Lent. It went as you would expect; I found myself longing for Easter resurrection many times.

This year, I’ve decided a different approach. It doesn’t involve giving up something as it does focusing on something. It is captured in a word that I’m claiming as a guide over the next forty days.

Savor.

I’m going to focus as much attention as I can on savoring every aspect of being alive.

• Savoring each conversation.
• Savoring each bite.
• Savoring each breath.
• Savoring each punchline.
• Savoring each sunset.
• Savoring each beautiful day.
• Savoring each ugly day.
• Savoring every sensation of being alive.

Other traditions might call this mindfulness. It is a focus on the present that counters grief (which pulls us into the past) and fear (which pulls us into the future.) Savoring is a spiritual companion to gratitude, since one cannot be thankful without pausing, and pausing is an invitation to savoring.

In a way, I guess I am giving up something for Lent after all.

• Giving up hurriedness.
• Giving up envy.
• Giving up shame.
• Giving up boredom.
• Giving up excess.
• Giving up selfishness.
• Giving up distractions.
• Giving up life as usual, to gain life as God intends.

I’ll see how it goes. And yes, I’ll be savoring every sip of coffee.

Grace and Peace,