Could YOU spend Lent in a Tent?

It is now time to plan for Lent. A priest from England gave a homily asking the parishioners to take Lent seriously. They should be creative and cheerful in their self denial. He told his parishioners to “Do something extreme for once! Think of the desert fathers who left everything and lived in caves. Think of Jesus in the desert for 40 days. Do something radical and beautiful for God!”


The priest realized later that he must be careful what he says because people ARE listening. On Friday he received a call from a young mother of four children. With some exasperation he told the priest that her son Philip had decided to spend Lent in a TENT. Philip was her 10 year old Son. The was a bright child, always joking, sang in the choir. He was planning on living in a tent in the backyard throughout all of Lent, and we was not going to come out. He told him mom to bring out food and books. The mom didn’t want to discourage him, but she was also nervous. So the priest came to visit.

He went into the tent. It was southern England so it was cold, but not to much. Philip was in a sleeping bag wearing a wooen hat, reading a comic book. They eventually made a compromise: Philip would come out from the tent to go to school, wash and have meals with the family. His mom said he could sleep in the tent every night if he wanted to.

Philip spent Lent in a Tent.

For 40 days he spent his nights reading, and praying in his tent like a 10 year old hermit. He had a great Lent.

As we plan for Lent I would everyone to be CREATIVE. Ask God what he wants you to do for Lent. Perhaps you could give up TV or the Internet for Lent. Perhaps you could be a vegetarian all of Lent. Maybe it is to cold for a tent, but you could always spend Lent sleeping on the Floor. Pray MORE. Sacrifice More. Your life will be better for it.

Do something radical and beautiful for God!