Lenten Loopholes
Loopholes. Not a common word in my vocabulary nor one I even think about very often. I have watched enough crime drama on TV to know there are legal loopholes, defined as an ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or a rule that can be potentially exploited. The word struck me and stayed with me after hearing our pastor’s homily last Sunday. Father Haake talked about how often we seek out loopholes in our lives, fulfilling the letter of the law while looking for excuses to avoid going the extra mile. Those pesky spiritual loopholes can convict me every time.
This week I have been thinking a lot about the ways and times I look for loopholes. With Lent right around the corner, perhaps this personal evaluation can help me better prepare to enter the season. What am I avoiding now and what will I try to avoid in my Lenten sacrifices and disciplines?
Sad to admit, but there have been many years I have entered Lent already looking for Lenten loopholes. I planned escape routes when it would not be convenient to fast between meals, telling myself, for example, that a light snack was just an extension of lunch. If having a meatless Friday interfered with a planned social event, I rationalized that I could just pick another day to abstain. At times my mindset entering Lent was one of weight loss management. "This will be a perfect time to start eating healthier and drop those extra pounds.” Not quite the spirit of sacrifice needed for a meaningful Lenten experience!
Going without or severely limiting my screen time is a tough one for me. Could I substitute with viewing content that informs and challenges me as a Christian? The Augustine Institute’s Formed is a great option, but rarely have I taken advantage of those offerings.
Beating myself up about my favorite loopholes is not helpful. It just makes me want to give up before even trying. And that is not at all what God intends for his children. Entrust your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)
Entrusting to the Lord will require me to open my heart and bend my will to him. I need to let Him in. I need to quit worrying about “workarounds” this Lent and not fear chinks in my armor when it comes to God working in my life.
A loophole is a means of getting away with something. Could it also be a means of going toward something? Can I turn a loophole into something positive, a way to invite God into more of my life?
May our Lenten journeys be filled with loophole management—both the kind that holds us back and the one that opens the way for God to work something new in us.
