Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, a forty-day journey in which we are renewed in our baptism, contemplate the sufferings of Christ, and prepare for the celebration of Easter.

But here’s the thing: Lent has become, for many of us, one more “thing” to add into an already overbooked schedule: extra Wednesday services, extra time spent in prayer, extra offerings to care for the poor… extra, extra, extra! Lent begins to look more like “breaking news” or really just “more of the same” than a time set apart to give and receive the gifts of God.

This is all deeply ironic for this Lutheran, for whom the belief that “we cannot save ourselves” is deeply central. We say Jesus is sufficient for us and for our salvation; we live as if it all depended on us.

At the risk of overusing a popular Disney song, what would it mean to celebrate a “Let it go” Lent?

1. First, I think it would begin in the land of 1,000 Nos. If we are adding weekly mid-week worship, for example, what are we giving up? If we are adding extra time for prayer and Bible reading, what time are we giving up? Sometimes we have to say no to several things to say yes to the few things that matter.

The beautiful thing is that our self-denial makes room for God to work in us to bless the world around us.

Deny yourself. 

2. I think it would mean more time spent praying for, and being around, those who are suffering. “Thinking” about the sufferings of Jesus can be done from a distance. Prayerfully contemplating them draws us even closer. Meeting Jesus in his suffering ones (cf. Matthew, chapter 25) will mess you up in the best way possible.

The beautiful thing is that God’s sufferings ones are beautiful and beloved–and that we are invited into that beauty.

Take up your cross.

3. Finally, it would involve doing whatever it takes to love and live more like Jesus. This is the transformation Lent intends to work in us anyway. This is what baptism is about: that is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me (Galatians 2:20).

The beautiful thing is that following Jesus is the best thing you’ll ever do with your life.

Follow Jesus.

I’m already praying as I write these things and the implications of these things are terrifying for me. Will you join me?

Or you can just do what you did last year.