When deciding what to give up for the Christian season of Lent, I, like many others, considered ridding my life of stress, snacks, cursing or soda.
The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to give up something more than the just things I never needed in my life in the first place.
What about the luxury of sleeping in a soft bed at night? Or taking a shower daily?
These things may sound extreme and unrealistic, but there are people in the world who do this.
My sister is one of those people who is willing to give up her traditional way of life in exchange for sleeping in a tent, eating unfamiliar foods, showering when available and having limited communication to family and friends.
My sister is on an 11-month missionary journey around the world to 11 different countries called The World Race.
It’s an experience that, especially during this 40-day Lenten season, will bring her closer to God, despite the fact that she’s thousands of miles from everything else she knows.
It’s a sacrifice that will exceed 40 days, and exceed many of our short-term goals of giving up procrastination, junk food and sleeping in.
She decided to make this sacrifice because she felt the calling.
She knew that is what God was asking her to do.
While I wish I could sacrifice more in my life than snacks and soda, and I’m sure many others feel the same way, maybe we’re not in the right time or place in our lives to make such extravagant sacrifices.
But there are people who are, and that’s why we should turn to them. We should admire them. We should thank them.
Many others have been shown the path they have chosen to take in an effort to spread the Word, and in my sister’s case, to place a healing and helping hand on people in parts of the world who see the tragic effects of poverty, sex trafficking and, simply put, a life unlike one any of us could imagine.
I’m thankful there are people in my life and all around the world who are willing to abandon their comfort zones to transform the world through expressions of God.
For now, I’m content with my choices for the Lenten season because I know there are people who give up everyday luxuries every day for 11 months, and even those who sacrifice for much longer than that.
Just because I’m not ready, or in the right place in my life, to make that sacrifice doesn’t mean I won’t strive to glorify God in every day of my life and of every season, not just during Lent.
My chosen sacrifice will have to do for now.
