“Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it?”

-John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress        

Such seems to be the bargain, the long term gain we must seek beyond the short term gain. This line from Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, one of many quotable maxims from the text, refers to a character called “Pliable,” who, though beginning his journey with enthusiasm, turned back at the first sign of hardship. Because of present difficulty he turned back to the “City of Destruction,” never to seek the celestial city again. Hence the sadness—“Alas, poor man!” If only he had persevered.

Which is a good thing to remember in these early weeks of Lent, and loudly: PERSEVERE! Yes, the spiritual life is hard, the disciplines of Lent too; yes, it’s hard simply to be a Christian. Yet, we must remember we are children of Abraham, the promised inheritors of a kingdom, if we’ll but be faithful! Abraham was asked to count stars and imagine many nations. Jesus was transfigured, showing us our brilliant destiny. But again, only if we are faithful and persevere! That’s what all this Lent stuff is about; it’s about training us to persevere as Christians.

Which is what we should do, keep struggling! Even if you fail, get up and keep going! No matter the hardship, keep walking the pilgrim way of Christ. It’s the whole spiritual point of Lent: to strengthen the soul for the journey to heaven, to not turn back.

And so, how’s Lent going? If it’s going terribly, don’t worry! Just repent, confess, laugh, and move on. Just don’t be like that sad character, Pliable. Don’t turn back on the path of life. Because that’s not what God wants for you. Because he wants you with him.