Comments on: Lent for heathens: what would you give up? http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/27/lent-for-heathens-what-would-you-give-up/ Question As Conversation Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:50:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: dw http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/27/lent-for-heathens-what-would-you-give-up/#comment-1364 dw Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:13:48 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/27/lent-for-heathens-what-would-you-give-up/#comment-1364 Meat. Except on feast days. I'm not Catholic anymore, but I decided after years of trying to eat more veggies and less meat I'd just go ahead and drop it for Lent. But I really like meat. And it's been a pain. For as "veggie-friendly" Seattle is, it's strangely difficult to find a fridge-case salad that doesn't have meat on it. I thought I'd "feel better" and all that, but I've actually gained weight, and I don't feel any better than I did before. I am really looking forward to Easter now. I want a roast animal of some sort. Meat. Except on feast days. I’m not Catholic anymore, but I decided after years of trying to eat more veggies and less meat I’d just go ahead and drop it for Lent.

But I really like meat. And it’s been a pain. For as “veggie-friendly” Seattle is, it’s strangely difficult to find a fridge-case salad that doesn’t have meat on it.

I thought I’d “feel better” and all that, but I’ve actually gained weight, and I don’t feel any better than I did before.

I am really looking forward to Easter now. I want a roast animal of some sort.

]]> By: kangaroo http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/27/lent-for-heathens-what-would-you-give-up/#comment-1290 kangaroo Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:16:33 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/27/lent-for-heathens-what-would-you-give-up/#comment-1290 OK I'll go first. Lent is not part of the religious tradition I was raised with. A few years ago, though, I decided to participate by giving up Diet Coke. I lasted about a week. Then I started thinking about the idea of giving something up for a period of time, and what I hoped to accomplish by doing this. Was the point of it to suffer a little? To grow spiritually? For me, having no Christian tradition to uphold, I thought I'd see if I could give up something that would make me a better person. Last year I tried to give up mean thoughts about people. You know, things that I'd think to myself, like, "Girl, you need a decent haircut and an updated look, you are so 80's", or, when spending time with my sister-in-law, I'd think, "You are so incredibly stupid and it's hard to have any sympathy for the bad situations you're constantly in because it's always a result of your poor decisions." I have to say I need to work on this. It's hard. This year instead of going at this in terms of giving something up, I'm going to put a positive spin on it. I'm going to look for something good in everything. So the next time my SIL does something boneheaded and pathetic, I'll remind myself that she's got a generous spirit and means well. Things like that. I can certainly do that for 6 weeks. Especially if I'm sipping on a Diet Coke. OK I’ll go first. Lent is not part of the religious tradition I was raised with. A few years ago, though, I decided to participate by giving up Diet Coke. I lasted about a week. Then I started thinking about the idea of giving something up for a period of time, and what I hoped to accomplish by doing this. Was the point of it to suffer a little? To grow spiritually? For me, having no Christian tradition to uphold, I thought I’d see if I could give up something that would make me a better person. Last year I tried to give up mean thoughts about people. You know, things that I’d think to myself, like, “Girl, you need a decent haircut and an updated look, you are so 80’s”, or, when spending time with my sister-in-law, I’d think, “You are so incredibly stupid and it’s hard to have any sympathy for the bad situations you’re constantly in because it’s always a result of your poor decisions.”

I have to say I need to work on this. It’s hard. This year instead of going at this in terms of giving something up, I’m going to put a positive spin on it. I’m going to look for something good in everything. So the next time my SIL does something boneheaded and pathetic, I’ll remind myself that she’s got a generous spirit and means well. Things like that. I can certainly do that for 6 weeks. Especially if I’m sipping on a Diet Coke.

]]> By: dbl http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/27/lent-for-heathens-what-would-you-give-up/#comment-1288 dbl Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:30:43 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/27/lent-for-heathens-what-would-you-give-up/#comment-1288 I gave up RSS for Lent. No, seriously. The point of forgoing something in Lent is to provide a constant spiritual reminder. Gave up coffee? Everytime you would've gotten coffee before, you're now reminded of the Lenten time of spiritual preparation. It's actually a great psychological tool. Keeping that in mind, it's doubly nice to give up something for Lent that's a time sink. That frees up time that you could then commit to spiritual growth and devotions. Enter Google Reader. I spend <b>way</b> too much time in my news reader these days, so a 40 day hiatus was just what the doctor ordered. I'll admit, the first week or so was painful. I was tempted many, many times to fire up Google Reader and check out what I was "missing". Every time I get the urge, though, I've filled the time with reading through <a HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com" rel="nofollow">the Gospels</a>. It's been a valuable experience, so far. I do wonder how this will affect my post-Easter habits. Will I dive back into the information firehose, or will I have learned some moderation from this? Only time will tell, I suppose. I gave up RSS for Lent.

No, seriously.

The point of forgoing something in Lent is to provide a constant spiritual reminder. Gave up coffee? Everytime you would’ve gotten coffee before, you’re now reminded of the Lenten time of spiritual preparation. It’s actually a great psychological tool.

Keeping that in mind, it’s doubly nice to give up something for Lent that’s a time sink. That frees up time that you could then commit to spiritual growth and devotions. Enter Google Reader.

I spend way too much time in my news reader these days, so a 40 day hiatus was just what the doctor ordered. I’ll admit, the first week or so was painful. I was tempted many, many times to fire up Google Reader and check out what I was “missing”. Every time I get the urge, though, I’ve filled the time with reading through the Gospels. It’s been a valuable experience, so far. I do wonder how this will affect my post-Easter habits. Will I dive back into the information firehose, or will I have learned some moderation from this? Only time will tell, I suppose.

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