Going on an Adventure for Lent: Want to Come?

Posted on 10-02-2018 , by: Dr. Tim. Hogan , in , 8 Comments

Let’s be real. Many of us always hated Lent. Bad weather. No desserts. Pressure to spend more time in church. And, worst of all, 45 days of a cumulative bad mood. 

Something had to change.

Then last year I used brain science to experiment on myself. Not only was it fun, but I also got healthier, deepened my prayer life and got more connected to the people I care the most about. People started asking what I was doing differently; apparently, I seemed more positive and alive! (BTW I didn’t tell them why. It’s more fun that way!)

So, this year I’m upgrading my Lenten adventure playbook and inviting you to come along.

I’m getting back to the ancient origins of Lent, then applying current brain science. The ancient meaning of the word “lent” (i.e., Lencten) is “springtime”. It is a time to prune and plant so that life can flourish.

Our lawns and gardens need Lent. One of my favorite springtime rituals is to rake the dead grass out of my lawn. Ripping out this suffocating layer of old grass lets my lawn breathe and drink up fresh rainwater.

Our nervous systems and souls need Lent. We live in a world that is moving faster-than-ever, a world that repeatedly overwhelms our nervous systems with stimulation, leaving us increasingly stressed and disconnected from one another. Lent is a time to change that. It is a journey of destressing, simplifying and deepening our loving connections.


Interested?

If so, here’s a good start: Ask yourself what is the “dead grass” of your soul. What is suffocating, numbing or medicating your heart? For me the list is long; I use coffee – lots of coffee, Dove dark chocolate, Dragon’s Milk (beer), Merlot, Facebook, Pinterest and mindless web surfing.

How about you?

On Wednesday I’ll make some suggestions for how to organize yourself this lent, including a chart (that I’ll be using too) to monitor how you are doing. (I can’t help it; I’m a psychologist.)

So, are you ready to do some pruning and planting, to let go of some stress, and reawaken your heart to what is most important? I hope you join me for the journey!

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8 Comments found

  1. I LOVE THE WHOLE IDEA…YOU GOT ME HOOKED..
    “PRUNING & PLANTING”… MY NEW MANTRA!

  2. Yes, Tim I am ready to do some pruning and planting and would love to join you. Now you need to explain how to do this. 😀. My “dead grass” is not always being loving to the people I love most due to selfishness. I don’t have a ton of bad habits but do spend too much time on my phone (including Facebook). I hope to disconnect this lent and will encourage my family to do the same. Thanks for your guidance and wisdom!

    • Thanks, Brian. Yes, that is the hope, that these blogs will offer some super practical and doable steps to clear out the dead stuff and let love grow! Let me know how it is going!

  3. Thanks. Dr. Hogan! I got this email at just the right time. Looking forward to using the chart 🙂

  4. Tim,

    Thanks for the inspiring message. Pruning is the perfect metaphor for this season, and I’m looking forward to the new growth that will follow.

    -Ed

  5. Good stuff Tim! I uninstalled Facebook this am add it’s one of my medicating strategies- mindless surfing. Looking forward to trying some of that yoga instead!

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