Pancakes and Promises

Tyre pulling around RAF Halton.

Padre Kevin

PANCAKES & PROMISES

If you’re like me, then you’ll have got to somewhere in Feb, or even mid-Jan, and found your New Year’s resolutions haven’t ‘resoluted’ into your life permanently by any stretch of the imagination.

And so, it comes, every year, as a great relief, that Lent rolls around, and following the binging on Shrove

Tuesday (Pancake Day) of 6 kilos of pancakes and Nutella (or cinnamon sugar) we have another opportunity to deny ourselves cake/chocolate/ alcohol/crisps/exercise* (delete as appropriate) in the pursuit of self-denial, personal growth and a generous helping of selfrighteous pride! The benefit I find to Lent, is that, unlike New Year Resolutions with the coming year stretching out to infinity, Lent has an end in sight. Forty days (from Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, echoing the Exodus’ 40 years in the desert) culminating in Easter – and the joy of celebrating New Life (probably with too many chocolate eggs).

Except that wherever we are in life, I’ve found that neither NY resolutions nor Lent abstinences really make a jot of difference. Habits, commitment, hard work & accountability are the only things that will really make a difference. Whether physically, spiritually, emotionally, or mentally. We are wholistic beings – each of those elements affecting the others. And we are creatures of habit. Habits which are created over weeks and years; slowly and incrementally, and eventually we become our habits – what we do, we are.

I heard it said that rather than aiming for a goal, or planning a major change; consider each behaviour, action – habit – as a vote for the type of person you want to become. If we want to become created in a new image, or a new habit, or a new outlook, or a new life it comes back to that commitment & accountability.

If you want someone to talk through change; or keep you accountable; or plan the changes; whether physical, spiritual, mental or emotional, Ashley & I (and decent coffee) are here anytime for you.