Introduction: Lenten Devotional: What are you up to?

Introduction

Welcome to a new take on Lent. Instead of the idea of “giving up something” you love (such as chocolate or sugar or carbs), I’d like for you to consider “getting up to something” for the sake of something you love (like people, the planet, even our selves).

Being “up to something” doesn’t have to be anything big, or life-changing, or unnecessarily piled onto an already-busy schedule. Finding “practices” that elevate our spirit can sometimes simply be a more intentional minute of reflection about something that shows up already in our lives. To be “up to something” may be simply raising up our awareness of what is important, what is precious, what is necessary for a life that feels gratifying. It can also mean raising our awareness of those things that don’t feel life-giving and giving them up “for good.”

We ask our friends, “what are you up to these days?” It is a playful question when we ask it this way. “Up to” sounds a little sneaky. “They are up to something!” Like orchestrating a surprise or creating something wonderful without making it a big deal. It is like having a project that only you know about. Lent is a little like that. It is a time when we go inward to assess “what’s up” in there so that the outward-facing life we lead is fueled and supported by a deep inner spiritual well. And sometimes what we are up to out in the world has positive or negative effects on that inner world. Being up to assessing those dynamics is also a key component to a Lenten journey.

Of course, the snarky response to the question “what are you up to” is “oh, about 5’5”!” We are a measuring kind of species. How tall? How accomplished? How important? How popular? But in this Lent season, being “up to something” isn’t about “measuring up.” It is quite the opposite. It is important that we ourselves define what is worth our heightened attention — not try to reach some height that someone else set for us.

This journal is full of word-plays on the word “UP” in order to prompt short stream-of-consciousness bursts of journaling. There is no way to do it wrong. There is no end-goal other than seeing what comes out and how that gets us thinking about life and what we’re up to in it.

One such “up” phrase is “Are you up to it?” There are times when we just don’t feel up to much. Life’s circumstances can take a toll. Here is another distinction about our Lenten journey. Sometimes what we are “up for” is saying “no” as the best answer for us in this time. A trend in the healthcare sector is for doctors to run “micropractices” in which they reduce their overhead and staff and patient load so that they can have more quality and quantity of time with each patient. What if we think about “micro-practicing” our lives? What would you prune in your life to spend more quality and quantity of time with the most important people and activities?

We hope this journal will be the micro-practice version of daily devotions for you. Many blessings on your Lenten journey!