We are now in the season of Lent, the forty-day period that reflects the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. Lent is a time of spiritual self-examination that prepares us to not only observe his Passion, but eventually, to also celebrate his Resurrection. Self-examination is accomplished with spiritual disciplines … prayer, Bible reading, meditation, fasting, good works, confession, generosity and similar practices. A “discipline,” which comes from the same root word as does “disciple,” helps us to see ourselves the way God sees us. Perhaps one of the least recognized of these disciplines is generosity. Lent is a time for a fresh opening of ourselves to God; a chance to start anew after this period of self-examination. It calls us back to our best character goals, to our commitment to follow Jesus, and gives us a chance to realign ourselves as a steward of all of God’s gifts.