Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

In the past, I've given up foods, like meat (vegetarian now, so not an option) or peanut butter (never again... I missed my pb too much). Or given up activities. Facebook, instant messaging, Tumblr, worrying. I've typically tried to give up something that was negatively addictive or time consuming; in doing so, I would become a better person. Then once I had managed the addiction, I could go back to "normal" living after Easter.

I really did not understand Lent.

And not that I'm an expert, but I've learned that Lent is more about sacrifice instead of self-improvement. Giving up something in order to live a more intentional, sacrificial, and God-steeped life. To draw closer to Him in preparation for Easter Sunday.

So this year, while giving up fanfiction (all of it... awful, smutty, time wasting ridiculousness), I'm participating in World Vision Acts's Relentless ACT:S of Sacrifice.

To prepare for Lent, our first challenge was to define "sacrifice." What does it mean to sacrifice? What does sacrifice look like? 

That's what I want to learn this Lent.

To start forming my definition, I read through Romans 12. From verses 1-8, I came up with a short list of characteristics or manifestations:

• a spiritual act of worship (vs. 1)
• a transformation: from conforming to renewing (vs. 2)
• a mindset: not thinking of yourself as higher than others (vs. 3)
• the using and collaboration of gifts (vs. 6-8)
• the act of setting/honoring others above yourself
• an act of sincere love
• a way of living

It seemed like the second half of chapter 12 was a description of a description of what sacrifice looks like: sincere love, devotion to one another, joy in hope, patience in affliction, faithful in prayer, sharing with those in need, practicing hospitality, etc. 

Then, my English major instincts kicked in and I decided to look up the etymology for "sacrifice." I assumed that the word was probably connected with "sacred," but I wanted to double check. From the delightful OED, 

Etymology:  < French sacrifice (12th cent. in Hatzfeld & Darmesteter) = Provençal sacrifici , Spanish sacrificio , Portuguese sacrificio , Italian sagrifizio , < Latin sacrificium , <sacrificus

 sacrific adj.¹ < Latin sacrificus , < sacri- , sacer sacred (sacra neuter plural, sacrifices) + -ficus

I love that sacrifice is connected to holiness. Sacredness. Consecration. 

This Lent, I want to learn how to live sacrificially. How can I sacrifice to change myself and the world around me, ultimately reflecting Christ's sacrifice?