These e-mail stories that

come around are something else, aren't they?

I got this one just last

week and really got a kick out of it! An Irishman moves

into a tiny village in County Kerry, walks into the pub

and promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his

eyebrows, but serves the man three beers, which he drinks

quietly at a table, alone.

An hour later, the man has

finished the three beers and orders three more. This

happens yet again.

The next evening the man

again orders and drinks three beers at a time, several

times. Soon the entire town is whispering about the

"Man Who Orders Three Beers."

Finally, a week later, the

bartender broaches the subject on behalf of the town.

"I don't mean to pry, but folks around here are

wondering why you always order three beers?"

"'Tis odd, isn't

it?" the man replies. "You see, I have two

brothers, and one went to America, and the other to

Australia. We promised each other that we would always

order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of

keeping up the family bond."

The bartender and the whole

town was pleased with this answer, and soon the "Man

Who Orders Three Beers" became a local celebrity and

source of pride to the village, even to the extent that

out-of-towners would come to watch him drink.

Then, one day the man comes

in and orders only two beers. The bartender pours them

with a heavy heart. This continues for the rest of the

evening: he orders only two beers. The word flies around

town. Prayers are offered for the soul of one of the

brothers The next day, the bartender says to the man,

"Folks around here, me first of all, want to offer

condolences to you for the death of your brother. You

know - the two beers and all..." The man

ponders this for a moment, then replies, "You'll be

happy to hear that me two brothers are alive and well.

It's just that I, meself, have decided to give up

drinkin' for Lent."

I hope I have not offended

anyone. Please forgive me if I have. But here's the

point: The "giving-something-up-for-Lent"

routine can be a wonderful spiritual discipline OR it can

be just a farce, a meaningless outward show that is no

sacrifice at all, nothing sacred or spiritual at all.

Maybe there's a better way

to keep this ancient sacred ritual. Maybe there is

something much more meaningful to "give up" for

Lent. See what you think about this list I found and put

in my files a long time ago:

Give up grumbling. "In

everything give thanks."

Give up looking at other

people's worst points. "Put the best construction on

everything."

Give up speaking unkindly.

Let your speech be generous and understanding.

Give up your worries. Trust

them with God.

Give up hatred, prejudice

or dislike of anyone. "Love one another."

Give up the fear that

prevents Christian witness. Seek the courage to speak of

your faith to others.

Give up spending so much

time reading newspapers and magazines for a few weeks.

Read your Bible.

Give up some specified

amount of television. Visit a lonely or sick person.

Give up buying anything but

essentials for yourself. Give that money to God's work or

someone in need.

Give up judging by

appearances and by the world's standards. Learn to give

up yourself to God.

What will you give up for

Lent?

The Rev. Justin Kollmeyer

is senior pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in

Fayetteville, which invites those without a church home

to worship Sundays at 8:15, 9:45, or 11.