Whatcha giving up?
I had planned to use today's post as a way of reflecting on the purpose behind Lenten vows/sacrifices but Jackie did a great job so I'll simply direct you there.
A friend of mine asked me yesterday what I was giving up for Lent and when I said I wasn't sure that I was, he said, "Umm really?" Yes, really. I've always been a believer that to give something up, it should be something you deeply care for/enjoy so that its absence reminds you of the sacrifice you're making in honor of the sacrifice Christ made. And I admit that the things I care that much about (television, coffee, an adult beverage when I need to destress) are not things I'm willing to give up for Lent. I know that makes me sound like a terrible Catholic but I'm owning it and being truthful. I thought about giving up Facebook (again) or Twitter. I can live without both of them but do spend a lot of time on them. But I thought back to last year when giving up Facebook just meant I spent more time on something else rather than reflecting on my relationship with Christ. And well, that's the freakin point!
So this Lent, I'm working on the following. They may or may not live up to your standard of what one should be doing but it's my faith and my relationship...
1. Trying REALLY REALLY hard to stop cursing. I find myself at times wondering how I got the mouth of a sailor and recognize how terrible it is. I dropped one F bomb yesterday and the B word today (yes, the B word is considered cursing in my book because it's degrading.) I want to figure out some type of monetary system so that with each word I utter, I put money aside and dump it into the collection basket each week.
(Sidenote: though inappropriate, this lenten vow reminds me of a certain game night many years ago when Team U had other consequences for dropping an F bomb.)
2. Returning to mass every Sunday and attending one other religious service per week (be it Stations of the Cross on Fridays, a rosary prayer service, or an extra mass during the week). I've taken a hiatus for some time from church and I need to get back into going and dedicating some time to being with my faith more fully.
We'll see where this all takes me. Cheers.
A friend of mine asked me yesterday what I was giving up for Lent and when I said I wasn't sure that I was, he said, "Umm really?" Yes, really. I've always been a believer that to give something up, it should be something you deeply care for/enjoy so that its absence reminds you of the sacrifice you're making in honor of the sacrifice Christ made. And I admit that the things I care that much about (television, coffee, an adult beverage when I need to destress) are not things I'm willing to give up for Lent. I know that makes me sound like a terrible Catholic but I'm owning it and being truthful. I thought about giving up Facebook (again) or Twitter. I can live without both of them but do spend a lot of time on them. But I thought back to last year when giving up Facebook just meant I spent more time on something else rather than reflecting on my relationship with Christ. And well, that's the freakin point!
So this Lent, I'm working on the following. They may or may not live up to your standard of what one should be doing but it's my faith and my relationship...
1. Trying REALLY REALLY hard to stop cursing. I find myself at times wondering how I got the mouth of a sailor and recognize how terrible it is. I dropped one F bomb yesterday and the B word today (yes, the B word is considered cursing in my book because it's degrading.) I want to figure out some type of monetary system so that with each word I utter, I put money aside and dump it into the collection basket each week.
(Sidenote: though inappropriate, this lenten vow reminds me of a certain game night many years ago when Team U had other consequences for dropping an F bomb.)
2. Returning to mass every Sunday and attending one other religious service per week (be it Stations of the Cross on Fridays, a rosary prayer service, or an extra mass during the week). I've taken a hiatus for some time from church and I need to get back into going and dedicating some time to being with my faith more fully.
We'll see where this all takes me. Cheers.
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