March 5 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40 days and 40 nights of Lent for many Christians. What are you giving up? Or more importantly, what are you going to do?
Three things I learned about Lenten season 10 years ago by Father Lincoln at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert stayed with me. He said to fast on Ash Wednesday and Fridays, carve out more time for daily prayer, and do good works. He never mentioned giving anything up.
Yes, I’ll be hungry Wednesday and probably every Friday, craving a fat juicy steak that I’d normally not care about. It’s a funny thing when you can’t have something, you fixate on it.
Second, I will find time to pray more. I believe that prayers make a difference in this world. A few months ago, I downloaded an app on my phone you may have heard about called Hallow. I signed up for their Lenten prayers, which I will listen to and pray with every day throughout Lent. They will have prayers every day given by everyone from a priest, to a former minister to Gwen Stefani and Marky Mark. Currently, I’m listening to their Bible in a Year podcast and I’m on day 109. I find it so helpful for my daily life.
Third, there is the part about doing good works. I think that is most difficult of all. Off the top of my head I don’t know what “good works” I can do. However, I am confident that if I keep my eyes open and look around me, I’ll see small ways where I can make a difference.
I remember when my daughter was in kindergarten at her Catholic school. The kids had to tell the class what they were giving up for Lent. She said piano lessons! She hated piano.
I’d like to know what you are doing for Lent. If you think about doing good works, what would they be?
I like how your daughter thinks. Ha, ha. I do like priest’s focus on doing rather than giving up. I think that’s a big risk when you focus on the giving up part. You miss out on the real message.
You’ve got me thinking now what I’m going to do. I have a few ideas, but need to put some more thought on it. Wednesday’s coming fast. I better get a move on it. Also, I will be downloading the app. (Er, well actually, I’ll be looking at it. As my crazy style, I have it downloaded but haven’t made the time to actually look at it and take in any of the messages. 🤣)
My daughter has always cracked me up. Now she’s doing stand up in San Francisco! I guess my good works is getting people to think about Lent 😊 I have found the app really helpful to me. If I’m feeling anxious, I can turn it on and listen to the Bible, prayers or meditation.
Anything that brings a little calmness in this world is a great thing. That’s awesome about your daughter. Stand-up. So cool. I can’t even imagine the butterflies she must get walking on stage. Wow. I would be losing it. Ha, ha.
Thanks for the encouraging words about my daughter. Yes, I’m impressed she can do that! Calmness is my friend.
The word that comes to mind is that she’s so brave!!!! Wow!!!
She did a show last week with 100 people in the audience, including 10 of her friends. Brave is right!
🤣🤣🤣😎😎😎
👍🏼
While I don’t observe this practice EA I do think it is always a positive idea to look for ways to do something good for another person or the environment as a reminder that even something small can make a difference.
I agree that in looking for small ways to help others or the environment is better than giving something up. It’s an interesting approach.
I’m giving up wordy social media, e.g. Bluesky and Threads, for Lent. Not sure it’ll be a sacrifice but that’s my answer. I’ll keep blogging of course because that’s not social media, but I won’t link to my post on social media. Again, not sure how much that matters.
I used to give up Facebook for Lent. But now I hardly ever use it. So it wouldn’t be much for me.
I think it’s second year that lent and Ramadan are overlapping. In Ramadan we fast from pre-dawn ( 90 minutes before sunrise) to sunset. No water and no food. Smoking is not allowed either. Fasting is a very useful practice as it improves the body health and spiritual wellbeing too.
That sounds so difficult to do! I drink water all day long. Our fasting is not eating meat. But we can eat anything else.
I know. But since it’s about 13 hours long so we soon get into the habit of keeping our mouths shut.
For how many days do you do that?
30 days.
We do 40 days of no meat on Fridays! Much easier to do. But I love the prayer and services during this time.
I hope this year’s Lent is a wonderful experience for you my dear friend
I hope the same for you this Ramadan.
Thank you kindly my dear friend
💕
Without explaining my reasons, for Lent, I will be giving up Lent. What will I be doing special? Nothing. It is not a special day in my world.
I admire you for stating facts.
This is a great reminder. Thank you, Elizabeth. I believe prayers matter too. And I’m still chuckling about your daughter’s answer.
Thanks! Yes, my daughter was completely serious. 😅
During Lent I celebrate the fact that I became an Atheist decades ago, and freed myself from the chains of organized religion.
I’m glad you found what works for you. I’m not much of a churchgoer but a believer. I also disagree with a lot of organized religion. When I was a child there was a huge fight among the people in our church. If you didn’t speak tongues you were out. My parents left. My mom was a true Christian and my dad and atheist.
May your Lent be meaningful and draw you closer to Christ!
Thank you! That is so kind.
I am giving up dessert, as always, and also need to make my prayer life more muscular. I love the Lenten observance and it couldn’t get here fast enough for me. Thank you for challenging us to be more thoughtful about other things we can do.
Thank you for commenting! I really like the Hallow app and used it for Advent. It helps me focus.