You're invited.

It's been a long time. Sorry about that. I suppose that even the best "gardens" seem a little dead throughout the winter months. Maybe that's what I've been to the world of blogging - dead. If you're still sticking with me after all these months of silence, blessings to you. If not, I still like you a lot. Either way, I'm glad to be back. If you're from around here, we've had our first tastes of spring in Michigan and hope of new life seems to be right around the corner... in more ways than one.

For starters, it's March. Finally. Birthday month! If you know me at ALL, you know that I LOVE celebrating my birthday - for about the entire month of March. I mean, why not? :) I've been thinking about how, exactly, to do it this year and I think I may be on to something great...

As the calendar would have it, my birthday usually falls very close to Easter (or, at least Palm Sunday), making the bulk, if not all, of my birthday month is shared with the observance of Lent. Now, while I have a basic understanding of and respect for the philosophy behind the Lenten season, I've never really been one to intentionally observe it. I've never really "given something up" for Lent. In fact, it's usually half over before I even think about it...

Well, this year I'm breaking the trend. As I was thinking about my birthday, I remembered a book my mom used to read to me called "Beth's Happy Day". It's about a five-year old girl (named Beth) who celebrates her birthday by doing nice things for other people. I recently found the book and reread it. What a great idea! I began to think about all the cool things I could do to celebrate my birthday as a 26 year-old version of this literary heroine. About the same time these ideas began rolling around, the subject of Lent was brought up in conversation. I was asked what I was "giving up", but, of course, I hadn't really thought about it - until that thought mixed with those ideas and a beautiful thing happened...

What if I didn't "give up" anything for Lent? What if, instead of not doing something - i.e. drinking pop - I did something? What if for forty days, instead of counting down the moments until that wonderful sip of Dr. Pepper, I spent those moments serving others? What if I celebrated my birthday every day of March like "little Beth" did? What if...

For those to which this is important, please do not misunderstand. I very much agree with the theology behind Lent. Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days. He sacrificed. He "gave up" things in order to have fellowship with the Father. I understand why it is important to observe and imitate this. I want to imitate this. I want to sacrifice my time. I want to sacrifice my selfish tendencies. I want to have fellowship with God. Maybe by the end of Lent, I'll have "given up" more than I thought...

In any event, here's what I decided. I'm going to celebrate my birthday (and Lent) for the next 6 weeks through a series of small (and random) acts of service. I'm really excited to see what happens and how God changes me through this process. I can't wait to share it with you as it happens!

I also want you to know that I'm not sharing this with you because I want a pat on the back. I certainly don't need it. I'm sharing this with you, because I want you to celebrate with me. I mean, seriously. No birthday party is fun without guests! So, here's your invitation to be my guest at this year's "birthday party". Would you like to celebrate 26 with me? Do you have a great idea of how to serve? Could a bunch of us could do it together? Can we share the joy of life like "little Beth"? Can we give of ourselves as a way to imitate Jesus? I think so. I hope you do too.