Lent

[RamiC]

It is almost this interesting time of year again. I say interesting because I cannot give up any food, as a result of my health needs everything I can eat I have to eat for a balanced diet. I have few luxuries in terms of spending money, although that is an option to some extent. My disability restricts my ability to give up time consistantly. Lent therefore is normally time to apply my creativity to what I can do to participate in the season.

It has in previous years included:

Reading bits of other religions "holy books".
Give up nail varnish (my nails are usually really loud and long).
Headwear restricted to one beige scarf (normally changes all the time, and often also loud).
Buying nothing except for food and hygeine products.
Visiting other churches (still local and Anglican).
Giving up a tv programme.

Does anyone else have either a hard time working out how to cut back, feel free to share why?
Or even if you have no excuse, any out of the ordinary ideas?

 

[seeking.IAM]

Does anyone else have either a hard time working out how to cut back, feel free to share why?
Or even if you have no excuse, any out of the ordinary ideas?

I have always thought it is supposed to be a hard time in order to make a comparison between the smaller sacrifice I may make to the larger sacrifice that Christ made for us. I have always wanted enough discomfort so any sacrifice I make serves as a daily reminder during Lent of Christ's sacrifice for me.

As for other ideas, perhaps the hardest yet most fulfilling for me was a Lent when I untethered myself from the computer, phone, forums, social media, and the news. I found it hard to do but calming in its own way in the freedom from external distractions...the modern version of "Be still and know that I am God."

 

[RileyG]

Blessed Lent all!

I am giving up drinking alcoholic beverages and ordering out food.

 

[Shane R]

I break out the soups. My daughter has been asking me to produce a pot of Hungarian fish soup. I was somewhat surprised to learn that it is her second favorite after Cincinnati chili.

 

[RileyG]

I break out the soups. My daughter has been asking me to produce a pot of Hungarian fish soup. I was somewhat surprised to learn that it is her second favorite after Cincinnati chili.

I should look that up! Very interesting!

 

[Shane R]

I should look that up! Very interesting!

I used to live on the coast and have always enjoyed fish and seafood. If it comes out of the water and is not poisonous I will probably eat it. And now I live in the Midwest and haven't been able to get ahold of decent clams or an octopus in ages.

 

[RileyG]

I used to live on the coast and have always enjoyed fish and seafood. If it comes out of the water and is not poisonous I will probably eat it. And now I live in the Midwest and haven't been able to get ahold of decent clams or an octopus in ages.

I live in the Midwest as well. Haven’t been to either coast. I do enough a good fish dinner, though. Delicious!

 

[Shane R]

I actually worked as a fish monger for several years. My wife had cravings for fish tacos during her first pregnancy and would call me in the evening, because I mostly worked the second or late shift, and ask me to bring home fish.

 

[RileyG]

I actually worked as a fish monger for several years. My wife had cravings for fish tacos during her first pregnancy and would call me in the evening, because I mostly worked the second or late shift, and ask me to bring home fish.

Ah, haven’t had many fish tacos. Definitely should look into it.

 

[Shane R]

So there's a fun question for some of the other mothers. Did you crave fish? We lived on the Texas Gulf Coast at that time.

 

[RamiC]

Blessed Lent all!

I am giving up drinking alcoholic beverages and ordering out food.

And to you, but see what happens? I already do not drink and cannot eat most take aways.

 

[RamiC]

I have always thought it is supposed to be a hard time in order to make a comparison between the smaller sacrifice I may make to the larger sacrifice that Christ made for us. I have always wanted enough discomfort so any sacrifice I make serves as a daily reminder during Lent of Christ's sacrifice for me.

As for other ideas, perhaps the hardest yet most fulfilling for me was a Lent when I untethered myself from the computer, phone, forums, social media, and the news. I found it hard to do but calming in its own way in the freedom from external distractions...the modern version of "Be still and know that I am God."

This is an idea for me one year, but not this year. It is a good one.

 

[RileyG]

And to you, but see what happens? I already do not drink and cannot eat most take aways.

Well, I hope I become healthier spiritually and physically.

Maybe I could stop watching so much TV? I don’t know.

 

[RamiC]

Well, I hope I become healthier spiritually and physically.

Your plan should work.

 

[Paidiske]

So there's a fun question for some of the other mothers. Did you crave fish? We lived on the Texas Gulf Coast at that time.

Oh heck no., I don't like fish much at the best of times, though.

My one real craving was feta cheese. Which was tricky because it was on the list of foods to avoid because of high risk of salmonella. I did cave in a couple of times.

At different times I've done different sorts of things for Lent. At one stage where my mental health was quite challenging, and so the usual sorts of disciplines were maybe not going to be helpful, I set myself a discipline around being creative; dedicating time to exploring faith through meditative art, that kind of thing. I found it helpful at the time.

I think the key thing is that the point is to bring you closer to God. And there's no point doing something just because it's traditional, or people think you "should," unless it's going to do that. But rather find the thing that really helps you in your relationship with God, where you're at, now.

 

[RamiC]

I think the key thing is that the point is to bring you closer to God. And there's no point doing something just because it's traditional, or people think you "should," unless it's going to do that. But rather find the thing that really helps you in your relationship with God, where you're at, now.

This is helpful, since I usually think in terms of what to give up, on account of being a miserable sinner. It could be a discipline to refine a spiritual gift instead.

 

[RamiC]

I live in the Midwest as well. Haven’t been to either coast. I do enough a good fish dinner, though. Delicious!

Wait a minute, you have never seen the sea? Put it on a To Do list, it is urgent!

 

[RamiC]

What is Lent? - describes different churches perspectives.

70 Thing to Give Up I assume they do not mean all of them at the same time...

 

[Paidiske]

One thing I do find tricky - and I'd be interested in other people's takes on this - is that in a household, it's hard to make big decisions in a way that only affects me.

For example, I'd quite like to keep a vegetarian lent; but in a household where we share meals, that means increased workload, in planning, shopping, preparing, etc (because the others won't be going vegetarian with me). And the reality of our lives is, I wouldn't be doing all that extra work myself. So I don't do that.

I notice in your link that they say one of the hardest things is giving up TV; but that's often time with other people, who may not be keen on waiting till Christ is rison to watch the next episode of whatever. And so on.

 

[RamiC]

One thing I do find tricky - and I'd be interested in other people's takes on this - is that in a household, it's hard to make big decisions in a way that only affects me.

Are the rest of your household Christians? If so, could you have a group discussion about it?