lent- for giving stuff up or for doing things?

We are having an amazing time doing Lent with some of the members of our little community. However people keep pointing out that there is a new craze of people doing things for lent instead of giving them up!!! Whilst i think that doing things is good, to call it lent is to miss the point. Lent is about 40 days in the desert. Lent is about the stripping back of that which is hindering us from being all God would have us be.

Speaking honestly it's not that I need to do more!! it that i need to put down a loads of habits and attitudes which are making my doing less effective.

Those who know me know i'm usually up for new things and new ways of doing life/church/God. However when it comes to lent I think it should be about the fast not the doing. Typical of the modern world to want to do more and not spend more time reflecting about where we are at in live and with God.

Happy lent time to you!!

R