Lent is often thought of as the season of guilt and deprivation, a spiritual scourging more than a clearing out of what isn’t necessary of helpful. No one needs that kind of trial, but most all of us could use the clearing out kind of season.

What is a helpful understanding of Lent? For me, it’s fairly simple: Lent is a time for letting go of what doesn’t matter and loving what does. I suspect that each person’s what doesn’t matter/what does items will vary, maybe in very big ways. I hope you offer some of your own items in the coming weeks…