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The 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday serve as a time for many Christian believers to deepen their connection with God.
In order to strengthen their faith, those observing Lent typically make a sacrifice to revive themselves and reflect upon their lives in preparation for Easter.
Augustana junior Joel Thompson and his roommate, junior Justin Grassmeyer, decided to challenge themselves by giving up meat for the Lenten period. The commitment to give up meat originated from a desire to sacrifice something, and they found it easier to make the sacrifice together. Thompson also credits a curiosity about vegetarianism for pushing him toward the decision.
Thompson cooks for himself much more because of his limited non-meat options in the Commons. "We are both scared we will slip up and accidentally eat something with meat," he said.
Foregoing meat and the convenience of Commons meals might not be a challenge most are willing to take, but for Thompson, the experience is rewarding. "Jesus gave his life for us, and giving up something is a good way of sacrificing in honor of him," he said.
Like Thompson, many people make food-related sacrifices during Lent. Others, however, recommend a more eco-conscious offering. The Rt. Rev. Richard Chartres, bishop of London, encouraged the abdication of electronics.
Parishioners of the Rt. Rev. Chartres are giving up iPods, cell phones and computers in what the Bishop calls Carbon Fest. His other ecologically aimed suggestions, such as flushing the toilet less often and using candlelight, allow reflection on modern dependencies.
The hope of Carbon Fest organizers is that people will realize how sacrifice can continue after the Lenten season ends, helping cut down on individual carbon footprints.
For some who find the challenge of sacrificing technology difficult, others celebrate Lent by giving up their most precious commodity: free time.
"It is hard to give up something, but it's much harder to give up your time," sophomore Margaret Koenig said. Koenig and her family usually try to do something for their community instead of give something up.
Koenig's tradition is an example of almsgiving, the practice of doing justice toward one's neighbor. According to Augustana's campus pastor, the Rev. Ann Pederson, more people are giving up their time to help others.
She compared this to the works of Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who in his writings spoke often of one's responsibility to the neighbor. "Lent is a time in the church for a pilgrimage into a deeper relationship with God," she said. "Often, people give in the name of sacrifice for others."
Augustana chapel staff planned events to mirror this servanthood for students. Through activities such as serving at the Banquet, students will sacrifice time for others and reflect on their good fortune.
And while some students consider Lent a time of penance and reflection, others choose not to celebrate.
Junior Nakita Podhradsky claims she is on a religious quest and chooses not to observe Lent. Although uncertain about her religious affiliations at the moment, she appreciates Augustana's atmosphere relating to Lent. "My high school seemed more religious than Augie even—it was in-your-face religious. I like that Augie doesn't force anything," she said.
Because some people celebrate Lent to fit in, Podhradsky enjoys the ability to work through her feelings without feeling the pressure to conform.
"Too many times, Lent turns into giving up things for the wrong reasons," Pederson said. She believes that people should not give up unique things just for the sake of doing so. Any sacrifice should allow for reflection and rest instead.
"It should be more about inviting Christ into your life than jumping on the bandwagon, but anything someone gives up is a good first step," sophomore Dawn Wille said. Some of the more unusual sacrifices might not seem to form a deeper relationship with God, but any intentional decision is a growing experience.
According to Pederson, Lent is more than a time for reflection: It's also an indicator of the new growth. As the 40 days continue, each individual feels the restoration of the Lenten tradition. "It's a season of transformation," she said.
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