We've been into Lent less than a week, and I haven't yet made a conscious "I'm-giving-up-blank-for Lent" decision. I thought about giving up Fleetwood Mac for these weeks, but backed off that . . . or Hopkins' poetry, but that didn't work for me, either.
I am, though, finding meaning in some reading . . . some material that is providing material for meditation and reflection.
I'll list below a few of the things available that I've found helpful through the years.
**Journey to the Center, by Thomas Keating.
**Show Me the Way, by Henri Nouwen.
**Wondrous Encounters: Scriptures for Lent, by Richard Rohr.
**Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter. Authors of the short articles include folks like Merton, Bonhoeffer, Kierkegaard, C. S. Lewis, Amy Carmichael, Kathleen Norris, Wendell Berry and many more.
**This year I'm following some postings at www.atheismforlent.net. It draws on the thought and work of ikon (Peter Rollins) in Belfast. The postings at the site actually come from ikonNYC. If you follow ikon and Rollins, you'll appreciate the site. If you don't follow ikon and Rollins, check it out.
**I've written some meditations around the daily scripture texts, trying to approach the texts as spiritual story and wisdom. I've called it Scattered Seeds, and it is available online at http://www.chapelwood.org/Event_Display.cfm?Event_ID=1617.
**I'm also writing a short piece each day, posted at www.dailylent.blogspot.com.
That should be enough to keep you engaged. Don't do everything. Choose something to follow, find your own rhythm, and then follow it through.