Lent started today, on Ash Wednesday, and officially ends on Holy Thursday (if you’re Catholic) or on the eve of Easter Sunday. Many religions observe this season of reflection, sacrifice, pentance, and fasting.
This morning of Ash Wednesday, I’ve been reflecting on what I plan to (1) give up, and (2) take up. I figure if I’m going to give up something “bad” for me that I’ll take up something “good” to replace the bad thing that’s gone.
Last year for Lent, I gave up Diet Cokes (although I am totally back on the bottle now) and gossip magazine sites, and I took up exercising more. Then, upon completing Lent, I got a rosary tattoo around my right ankle.
Right now my plan is, once again, a bit on the shallow side. I plan to give up those tasty little biscuits (filled with sausage, egg and cheese) of scrumptiousness at Weigels and take up exercising more. I’ve slacked off on the exercise thing because… well, there’s really no good reason other than I’ve let myself get lazy.
As for those tasty biscuits, I don’t think it will be hard to give them up, and this will give me the chance for a second go-around on the Dukan Diet (which helped me lose about 14 lbs in about three weeks). Diet and exercise (and a lot of self-discipline) ought to help me drop that last 10-15 pounds I’ve been wanting to lose!
I googled Lent and some websites say that you should give up a habit of sin that marks your life. Giving up those yummy biscuits and Diet Coke are not habits of sin. So this revelation makes me reflect deeper – do some serious soul-searching – into what I truly want to give up or “sacrifice.”
I could give up my occasional cussing (yes, the occasional curse word slips out every now and then) and my gossiping. Colassions 3:8 reads, ” But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
I read one guy’s post in a forum that said (and I paraphrase) accepting without question that giving up Diet Coke or chocolate for Lent has some sore of spiritual benefit. Well, it may not have a spiritual benefit, but doesn’t God say our body is a temple? Shouldn’t we as humans take care of our temple (body)? And if Diet Coke and chocolate could potentially be bad for our bodies, shouldn’t we stop drinking or eating it?
I think some people jump to conclusions about others who opt to observe Lent. And for those “jumpers” I quote Matthew 7:1, “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Another good verse to keep in mind is found in the second part of John 8:7, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Sorry to get all preachy.
So as this Season of Lent passes, I’m sure I’ll figure out more bad habits to give up. And when it comes to an end, hopefully I won’t slip back into those bad habits.
What, if anything, would you give up for Lent?
No Comments