What Are You "Picking" Up for Lent?

When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.

     So every year it seems that most peoples's first inclination is to "give something up" for lent.  I think that is a very worthwhile and noble thing to do.  But I ask you, if you give something up, shouldn't the next logical question be, what are you replacing it with?
     If you are giving up eating fast food, what are you doing with the money you would have spent on it?  If you are giving up television, what are you doing with those hours and hours of spare time each week?  (Last year or a couple years ago, Kathy and I gave up television and spent that time talking, reading, or spending time with family.)  If you are giving up working out, what are you doing with those extra few hours a week?  And yes I had someone tell me that last week, I'm pretty sure they were joking but I'll have to get back to you at that one.
     This year, I think I am going to give up "wasting time" online.  Let me explain what that means.  I have a tendency to read any and every article on ESPN.com and SportsIllustrated.com that has to do with the Denver Broncos, San Antonio Spurs, Texas Tech Red Raiders....well you get the idea.  And I even read article about random teams that I am not a fan of because they seem interesting.  So now you are probably asking yourself: "Now, Kevin what are you going to use all that extra time for?"
     I plan to use that the time that I would be wasting time reading sports articles to practice and learn to play guitar.  I have always put off playing guitar but really want to do it now.  I have taken a couple of lessons and I am finding it fun and relaxing.  And learning to play the guitar is probably a better  use of my time than reading a bunch of articles or playing video games.  Not just in the next 40 days of lent but beyond.
     Which brings me back to the Stonecutter's Credo above.  So maybe after 40 days I will be able to see all the work that has gone into practicing and playing.  I am sure I will see more progress after 40 days than after just one day.  So what are you "picking" up for Lent and beyond?  Hopefully it is something useful.

Grace & Peace
Kevin