A Self-Forgetting Lent
Susie Fikse | March 24, 2025
When I first became a follower of Christ in college, Lent felt like a foreign ritual—something I assumed only Catholics observed. But when my friends decided to “give up” something, I joined in, fasting from chocolate. The only lesson I learned? That fasting led to vivid, torturous dreams of chocolate.
Maybe you’re fasting from social media or sugar this Lenten season. But what if there were an invitation to step outward in your observance of Lent?
One ancient, yet often overlooked, practice of Lent is almsgiving—giving generously to those in need. Rooted in Jewish history, this practice emanates from passages such as Deuteronomy 15:7-8:
"If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be open handed and freely lend them whatever they need."
Almsgiving isn’t just about finances—it’s about seeing the people Jesus sees, stepping into their pain, and responding with love. In this season of preparing ourselves to celebrate the resurrection, we remember the selfishness and pride that infects our hearts. Acts of service and giving enable us to die to ourselves in ways that mirror Christ’s death for us, while also demonstrating the hope we have in him.
Here in San Diego, there are children worrying about how they’ll eat this weekend. Women being used and discarded by traffickers. People sleeping on the streets and in the riverbed, unseen and forgotten. Does my heart break for them the way God’s heart does? Will I give up something of myself to care for them?
I confess, too often, I resist the call to sacrifice. I cringe when serving asks me to lay down my comfort, my time, my money. But then, I remember—Christ laid down everything for me. He didn’t turn away from suffering; He walked straight into it, for my sake.
Isn’t that why we observe Lent? To remember our desperate need for Jesus, and allow him to shape us more into his likeness? As we walk through the darkness of Lent, the light of Easter shines even more brightly!
This year, my Lent isn’t about giving up chocolate. It’s about giving of myself—serving meals to my homeless neighbors, doing yard work with at-risk youth, and assembling outreach kits for trafficking victims. And yes, after that, I’ll be savoring some European dark chocolate!
