Probably one of my favourite Dragon's Den episodes of all time was one where a woman came on and tried to get investors involved in her spice-making business. The woman had lost nearly $100,000 in it, had spent several years trying to make the business work, and she was looking for investment in something she thought could be a big hit with the right leadership. The idea was so bad, and it was so poorly managed, that one of the dragons told her, "You're being stupid. Stop investing money in this business. It's ruining your life."
The woman wouldn't give in. She said she believed in her business, and that it was a great idea, and that
There are times in our life when really, the smartest thing we can do is give up. And sometimes, giving up something doesn't mean we're losers. Sometimes it means we're giving up the things that we making us losers. That woman was interviewed a year later...and she said the show gave her the best advice of her life. She was throwing away her life, and she realized she didn't need to try and make something that didn't work. She gave it up. And she was happier.
Giving in is slightly different. When we give in, we're letting go of our willpower to believe that something is possible, or to give in to what other people want. Giving in is often a negative choice, and we should never give in, if we can help it.
As we start Lent, I will be giving up a lot of things. These are conscious decisions I'm going to make to positively impact my future, and to show spiritual fidelity. It's not easy to make these choices...people will often ask me to give in because it suits them. But Lent is a time of spiritual renewal. It is not an easy time nor often a happy time for Catholics. It's a time to reflect, to be in our 'spiritual desert' so to speak, and to contemplate the greater mysteries.
So, here's to giving up.
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