<p>Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Today is also a day of fast.</p>
<p>It’s traditional to use the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter to do something to improve yourself. Often people give up a treat or something they like. The idea is similar to pruning back a rose that it can grow more beautifully.</p>
<p>If you observe, what will you be doing? (and even if you don’t observe, anyone can participate if they wish.)</p>
<p>I’m going to practice my Sunday tradition of 2 meals a day throughout Lent and “no chocolate” as well.</p>
<p>Rather than giving something up, I generally try to add something worthwhile: volunteering more, being more mindful of helping others, etc…and hope that it sticks for the rest of the year!</p>
<p>Our parish is offering a lot for us to join in on. I plan on getting to daily mass 1-2 times a week, stations on
Fridays, reading “Rediscovering Catholicism” and participating in the small group discussions. I have a few prayer intentions that I will pray for during these 40 days. I am off desserts, which will be hard, but selfishly, I hope will help the summer is coming, I need to drop a few pounds cause! </p>
<p>I usually give something up for Lent. Last year was Diet Coke, the year before wine, a couple times I gave up using my credit card. This year I am giving up ice cream. I am completely addicted to ice cream and have some pretty much every night while I am watching TV, so it will be a tough 40 days. </p>
<p>I observe Lent (Episcopalian). Our church has Wednesday night programs and this year we are encouraged to learn about different eating disciplines- vegetarianism, vegan, fasting etc. You can modify these (or not) as you wish, but there will be guidance and support for whatever you choose.</p>
<p>We are also encouraged to not treat Lent as a time for another New Year’s resolution, but to use the opportunity to give up something to reflect on things and to just get out of your comfort zone. The expectation is that you will pick up this thing (Diet Coke, whatever) after Lent. I am also trying to be more “present”- i.e. not multi-tasking with my phone when I should be listening to someone or enjoying where I am. </p>
<h1>8 Contemplating giving up CC for Lent. The new format is making it easier to do that And I would have a lot of extra time to be doing something worthwhile…(and it would be getting out of my comfort zone!)</h1>
<p>But wonder if I’d then spend hours after Lent catching up on what I thought I’d missed…</p>
<p>Got my ashes today at our Newman Club mass on campus where I work. </p>
<p>I AM cutting back on computer time to focus on accomplishing more things in my day. I have the habit at work of checking a few sites frequently throughout the day. It’s distracting and sometimes cou tear productive and I know it - but has become an unhealthy habit. I am allowing myself my breakfast break and lunch break for Internet cruising and trying to curtail most other activity during work hours - it’s a real temptation when that computer screen and keyboard is attached to you during the day! (Disclosure- I’m off work now!!) :)</p>
<p>I’m preaching for Ash Wednesday ; On my way now to set up for communion, and thankfully checked in on CC because I almost forgot to grab my pyx of ashes.</p>
<p>For those of you who give something up - Sundays are feast days and never used for fasts. That’s why they are called Sundays “in” Lent and not “of” Lent, and are not counted as part of the “40 days of Lent” that jmmmom refers to in post #3 (40 days from today only takes us to April 13, to show you how they don’t count). So you can enjoy your sweets, computer time, whatever on Sundays!</p>
<p>I am not religious, so I wasnt even paying attention, but I will give up ice cream, in solidarity with my daughter who is allergic to casein and has to give up dairy.
Not giving up cheese though.
Hope it goes well, my H likes to keep the freezer stocked.</p>
<p>Yesterday I was unexpectedly called on to give out ashes. My husband is a Deacon in our parish (he was at work) and it can be tiring for me and for my S to be expected to step up and serve at all times because we are the Deacon’s family. And yesterday I was so not prepared to serve. I wasn’t really dressed for it. It was 3:30 so slump time for me…we usually go to a morning Mass but my S had his road test (he passed!). And again, the expectation can be annoying…is there really nobody else to ask…ever??? I mean it’s good to serve, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes you just need to receive. And I thought that yesterday was just one of those times.</p>
<p>So I have to say that it turned out to be SUCH an unexpected blessing! After the service I felt the privilege it was for me to help out…church was PACKED! And how great for me to get to say and hear “Repent and believe in the Gospel” over and over.</p>
<p>My main objective this Lent is to grow closer to Christ partly through sacrifice but more so by working on my relationship with him. I have joined a weekly prayer group, will attend Eucharistic Adoration and a one day retreat on forgiveness which is something I am struggling with in my life right now. Also planning to spend some time in daily prayer…something I have been neglecting. </p>
<p>I wish you all a blessed 40 days and moving spiritual journey!</p>
<p>I don’t understand why someone who isn’t religious and probably has no idea what Lent means would give up something. Again- Lent isn’t a time for a New Year’s Resolution. Sorry (not sorry), but this is a little bit of a sore point with me. It’s similar to if I decided to pretend to be Jewish for awhile.</p>
<p>Would anyone mind if you pretend to be Jewish or catholic or Lutheran? I’ve entered many houses of worship and never been asked for an ID card. As mom2 says if it leads to faith isn’t that ok.?</p>
<p>For the record I was raised catholic do not practice and believe in God. But I’m not religious and accept all faiths into my life. </p>
<p>I think any time we make a conscious decision to change a fundamental part of how we approach life, it can give us a new perspective.
The onset of spring also seems like a more natural time to incorporate that new perspective, certainly more so than the dead of winter.</p>
<p>Fasting, meditative walks and setting aside a material want for the sake of inner clarity or even a show of willpower does not belong to any one religion.</p>
<p>I applaud your quest for faith. That wasn’t the impression I got from some of the posts. Sorry if I misunderstood. Giving up Diet Coke to “join the crowd” is a little different from exploring a different faith’s house of worship.</p>
<p>I guess I don’t know anyone who participates in Lent that isn’t Christian. But I don’t think it would bother me if they did. I do celebrate Chinese New Year, Saint Patrick’s Day and even sometimes Persian New Year with friends even though I am not Chinese, Irish or Persian. </p>
And I would have a lot of extra time to be doing something worthwhile…(and it would be getting out of my comfort zone!)</h1>