Lent

[lnr]

So tonight I am making pancakes (yay!), and tomorrow is Lent. I'm not a Christian, but I do often give things up for Lent, which some may find strange. I suppose partly it's growing up with Christian traditions and wanting to keep them, and partly just because I find it a useful discipline. And it's a good time to give something up: just long enough to be a challenge but short enough that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, which makes it easier to stick to. I'd never even heard of the concept of feast days and Sundays not counting as part of Lent itself until very recently, despite it being originally something I learned through school and sunday school, so I've always given things up straight through from Ash Wednesday until the morning of Easter Sunday. I was considering giving up either alcohol or chocolate for Lent this year, but I have not one but two nice dinners out this weekend, and my sister's birthday the following weekend, and an entire box of chocolates just arrived at home. So should I even bother? I'm already counting calories which cuts back on overindulgence somewhat. Any suggestions?

Comments

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

Give up caffeine?!

[keirf.livejournal.com]

an entire box of chocolates just arrived

Doesn't that just add to the challege? Otherwise you might as well give up "travelling to Nepal" or "eating live slugs" for Lent.

[scat0324.livejournal.com]

The Eastern Orthodox Churches will observe Great Lent from Monday 14 March until Friday 22 April this year, perhaps that fits in better with your social calendar?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Have you considered taking something on instead? Extra money to charity, for example, benefits someone else and probably also causes you to cut down because you're using money that you miht otherwise have sed on self-indulgence.

Well, it's sugar for sugar / And salt for salt

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

Hmm. One year, I gave up salt for lent - both for cooking with, and adding to cooked food in my plate. Mainly in the attempt to make me think more about what I was eating. As such, it really worked, and it also cut down the amount of salt I've used since - I still don't add salt when I'm cooking.

[There's very little danger of not getting enough salt, before anyone suggests this]

[k425.livejournal.com]

http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/worship/resources/lent/index.htm

Has various ideas for raising cash rather than giving stuff up over lent. In fact, I've just printed out the calendar for adults, so I can do it myself.

"Give 10p for each mobile phone and 25p for each computer in your house" (Tue 22 Feb) could be expensive around here...

[ceb.livejournal.com]

I'd never even heard of the concept of feast days and Sundays not counting as part of Lent itself until very recently, despite it being originally something I learned through school and sunday school, so I've always given things up straight through from Ash Wednesday until the morning of Easter Sunday.

*boggle* So you're allowed to cheat and not do 40 days? Presumably the theological basis is that Jesus nipped out of the desert once a week for a quick sandwich....

[besskeloid.livejournal.com]

Give up abstinence. It can't be good for you.