Lenten Discipline: Taking Up, Not Just Giving Up

When we think of Lenten disciplines, the first thing that often comes to mind is giving something up — chocolate, coffee, social media. But what if, instead of focusing on removing something, we saw Lent as an opportunity to take something up? What if our discipline this year stretched us toward a deeper connection — a deeper connection to our food, to the land, and to the people who nurture it?

This Lent, consider a discipline that invites you to eat more locally-produced food. Maybe you commit to making one or two meals each week using ingredients sourced from nearby farms. This practice will require planning—not just in meal preparation but also in how you shop. It might stretch you to seek out a farmers' market, connect with a local farm, or explore a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program.

In our faith tradition, we walk a Lenten path from Ash Wednesday to Easter, reflecting on sacrifice, justice, and renewal. Farming, at its core, embodies these same values—hard work, care for creation, and the promise of new life.

Even if your faith tradition is different—or if you don’t identify with one at all—this practice is still an invitation to something meaningful. Regardless of how we articulate our understanding of the Creator, we all share responsibility for this planet. And we believe one of the most tangible ways to care for creation is through what we eat.

By supporting local farmers, we invest in practices that nourish the soil, sustain ecosystems, and honor the labor of those who grow our food. And as part of this Lenten discipline, perhaps you and your family could go a step further—offering gratitude during your mealtime prayer for the farmers by name, recognizing their work as an extension of our shared stewardship of the earth.

Lenten disciplines are meant to stretch us—but also to be sustainable. If this practice feels challenging, start small. Maybe it’s one meal a week instead of two. Maybe it’s choosing local eggs or honey before diving into larger shifts. The goal isn’t perfection but intention.

No matter where you live—whether you’re near Bowers Farm or on the other side of the world—this is something we can all take up. Lent is a time of reflection, renewal, and recommitment. This year, let’s recommit to our connection with the earth and those who cultivate it.

This Lent, instead of giving something up, take up a deeper relationship with your food, your community, and the land that sustains us all.