Lent for Non-Lent People: 33 Things to Give up for Lent and Other Readings

by Jon C. Swanson

This book, this journey, is for people who aren’t exactly sure why they are looking at Lent books. We just are. We’ve heard about Lent, but we aren’t Lent people. What we want is a relationship with God, and we are wondering whether “giving up something for Lent” might help.

“Lent for Non-Lent People” is a daily guide to prayer, fasting, rest and following Jesus for people who want training wheels for Lent.

There are eight chapters. The first seven are each divided into seven readings, allowing for daily readings, starting the week of Ash Wednesday and going through Easter. The final chapter provides several strategies to take Lent into the rest of the year.

Topics include Lent as an experiment in habit, Lent as finding living food, the forty day fasts of Elijah and Jesus, the conversations Jesus had with several women, having a cup of tea with Jesus, 7 lessons to learn from sleepy disciples, and the difference between routine and ritual.

Genres: Religion

111 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2013

About the author

Jon Swanson is a chaplain, teacher, blogger, and introvert. After working in higher education for fifteen years, he became an associate pastor in 2000. And then, in 2016, he became a hospital chaplain.

Jon and his wife, Nancy, have two adult children.

Reviews

[Rick Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great devotional book

This book helped me through Lent this year. It helped me to see Lent in a new way, and to grow in that perspective.
“We give up something to have room on our agenda for God. We leave space to listen. For forty days we practice orienting our attention away from something else and toward God.” p. 26.
Later, this moved me:
“But Jesus was dead. Jesus was in the tomb. Jesus was gone. We don’t know anything about that day, about the feelings or actions of the disciples. We know that on Sunday they were hiding. But we don’t know if they went to the temple on the Sabbath. Think about it. For the previous three years, they had spent Sabbath with Jesus. They had gone to the temple or to the synagogue. They had heard Him read, they had watched Him heal, they had listened to Him debate. The Sabbath had been a big time of activity for Jesus. And now He’s gone. The ones in charge of the meeting places killed Him. The one who was transforming their lives had gotten Himself killed. The disciples had to be feeling pretty uncertain about religion on that day. We end up in that same place. We have many days in between, between our affirmations of faith and the evidences of God’s action. We pray and there isn’t healing yet. We hope and the job is still missing. We ache and the child is still somewhere else. Easter Sunday tells us that God does the impossible. Easter Saturday reminds us that we are invited to live with faith.” p. 74

[Donna C Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected

While this was not quite what I expected, it was none-the-less an interesting read for an evangelical. I got quite a bit about the whys of lent and a big dose of biblical principles and stories. Well done. Worth the time and effort

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical guide

I had not observed Lent before in my life. This year I decided to try it. Thank you so much for walking me through my first Lenten observance.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A number of years ago I was reading a blog post where the writer said she wished her religion would adopt some of the religious observances of other religions. She then went on to talk about Lent and her experiences. My religion (and the writer's) doesn't observe Lent. I had no background or real understanding of Lent. But I was so moved and interested that I went home from work and made pancakes for dinner and even made a King Cake. It was Fat Tuesday. Because it was such a sudden decision, I just grabbed at 'giving up sugar' for Lent. I was going on my childhood memories of Lent = giving something up. It actually ended up having meaning for me and being a sweet experience (no pun intended :) )

I have a wonderful friend who is Catholic and has been a guide to me in this journey when I have had questions. She recommended this book last year. It's interesting to me that, between what my friend has taught me and what I have decided on my own, I understood and was already doing much of what the author describes here. But it was good to read.

My Lent observance is an adaptation. It is a time that I have come to look forward to each year.

[Jessie Lowry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick and easy read with a few helpful tidbits that I may use in a sermon or something one day. My only real complaint sounds like nitpicking yet it is true---there were a number of editing errors which took away from some of the gravity of the reflections for me a bit. But I was still glad for some of the insights.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written for those who don't participate in Lent; however, as someone who has participated in Lent for all of my life, I still found it very informative and well worth my time. Would recommend for anyone wishing to know more about Lent or to enrich their journey.
Great Read.

[Celia Christman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am from a non- Lenten tradition, so I knew very little that could help me prepare for Easter. I appreciate Jon's book which gives me the opportunity to explore the purpose and practice of Lent which I can apply in the 47 days before Easter.

[Aaron Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

An annual tradition for me. Better each time!