<p>I am not Catholic, nor particularly religious, but I remember when I was young, friends would discuss what they were giving up for Lent – candy was a big one. </p>
<p>I like the idea of giving something up that’s important to you just to see if you can live with out it. Especially if it makes you re-think your life or how you live it. For me, giving up the internet would be tough, but I bet I would appreciate the time it frees up. </p>
<p>Has anyone given up something for a period of time (whether for Lent or not)? Was it difficult? Do you do it every year? Is a period of abstinence something that helps you refocus?</p>
<p>I always used to say that I was giving up screaming at my kids. My D gives up biting her fingernails EVERY YEAR and goes right back to it on Easter Sunday EVERY YEAR.</p>
<p>As an observant Episcopalian, I find the “religious New Year’s Resolution” approach to Lent irritating and offensive. I get in this battle every year on CC, but Lent is an important and meaningful season in the church year and not a time to see if you can lose 5 pounds or give up your nightly glass of wine. </p>
<p>The point of making a personal sacrifice (or, more appropriately, ADDING something positive to impact your faith) is to remind you of the sacrifices Jesus made and to remind you to focus on your relationship with God. Lent is a time of reflection and self-denial, but the self-denial is supposed to have a purpose connected to your faith. I find it curious that people who would never dream of making light of another faith’s customs find Lent fair game.</p>
<p>This is a particular peeve of mine, but I won’t shut up about it!</p>
<p>In our church (Episcopal), we’re encouraged to <em>add</em> a discipline: volunteer to visit an elderly shut-in, work in a soup kitchen, etc. (if we don’t already), or add more depth to our spiritual life through study of scripture, more time in prayer, etc.</p>
<p>I’ve tried giving things up, but my resolve usually flags and I go right back to whatever it was at Easter (if not before!) But some of the adding has stuck: I now volunteer at a local soup kitchen on a regular basis.</p>
<p>ETA: MOWC, thank you. That was very well said.</p>
<p>I give up sweets every Lent…cuz I love chocolate…and then I can justify the caramel Cadbury Eggs on Easter. My boys give up soda, which they love, so they always get Jones Cream Soda on Easter (which if a fav, but I rarely buy because of price). H now gives up Red Bull…which is tough for him.</p>
<p>Whether you’re religious or not, there’s a growth process which occurs when someone gives something up…it’s a discipline and helps teach/reinforce self-control.</p>
<p>^I agree – that’s what intrigues me about the idea of “giving things up” whether it’s for Lent, or whether your religion encourages fasting on specific days. We all have so much – abundant food, clean water, electricity, technology – it’s an interesting imposition of discipline to consciously abstain from something for a period of time. Our Ethiopian babysitter used to periodically have fasting days. I read an article that in one culture, married women fast for one day a year and pray for their husband’s success in business. I remember fasting once because a friend was undergoing a procedure where she couldn’t eat for hours – it was my gesture of support. There’s something powerful about choosing to give something up when we all have everything available to us.</p>
<h1>" Our Ethiopian babysitter used to periodically have fasting days. I read an article that in one culture, married women fast for one day a year and pray for their husband’s success in business"</h1>
<p>My youngest sister has had a life-threatening chronic illness since she was a young child (requiring 2 organ transplants). For 40 years, my mom quietly gave up chocolate and ice cream for the rest of her life as a prayer for my sister’s life (and my mom had loved those things). My sister didn’t know that was the reason until my mom’s eulogy last November when it was revealed.</p>
<p>My son who is not religious at all gives something up for Lent every year. I asked him why and he said that he likes to support the others. I don’t see how that is “making light” of another’s faith. It certainly doesn’t mock lent or hurt anybody that he chooses to give something up. I also don’t see how losing five pounds or giving up that nightly glass of wine hurts anybody else. Unless people come on here and make fun of those who choose to give something up, I think they are free to choose their own way of observing. I certainly don’t mock those who choose to attend mass only on Christmas and New Year. That’s between them and God.</p>
<p>When I was Catholic, I used to give up Gardetto’s. I love those things. My parents would buy me a 2 lb bag every Easter Sunday. </p>
<p>Even after I realized Catholicism was not for me, I still continued to give something up. Last year was the first year I didn’t and I didn’t this Lent either. </p>
<p>How is participating in Lent, even if you’re not observant, making light of someone’s religion? I gave something up just because it was a reminder of how fortunate I am and that I should recognize this and give to those who aren’t as fortunate. So what if I’m not religious?</p>
<p>I am about as far from “holier than thou” as you can get. Give up whatever you want, but if you don’t even know what Lent IS (which most people do not), don’t pretend it is a Lenten observance. That’s all I’m saying. Have a “March resolution” or make a sacrifice in honor of someone or something, but Lent is a specific church season.
Maybe Abercrombie should sell Muslim prayer garb in cute patterns as the next big thing???</p>
<p>We all joke about Lent. It comes with the territory. We give things up, we fail, we try again. One year I was very successful with giving up alcohol until church supper group one Friday night after a long work week when I found myself with a beer in one hand and wine in the other!</p>
<p>MOWC…I can understand your feelings that if people don’t know what Lent is, then why are they saying that they’re doing X for Lent. </p>
<p>But, look at it this way…perhaps their reasons are not with full understanding of Lent, but let’s hope that their reasons are similar to the ones of dear children. They don’t yet understand, but later they do.</p>
<p>And I want to apologize to MOWC if my post came across as disrepectful to your faith in any way. I really meant it as a respectful nod to what I see as a something that reminds us all about really questioning those things we think we can live without. </p>
<p>I think I feel the same when I overhear tourists to NYC reel off their list of sights they’re going to see. Somehow Ground Zero shouldn’t be said in the same breath with the Naked Cowboy.</p>
<p>^^ no problem. I do agree that it can be helpful to everyone to reflect on “needs” v “wants”. Most of us (pointing finger at myself) aren’t willing to give up the things that we REALLY have elevated to a too-high position in our lives…</p>