I’m going to try and go to Ash Wednesday services today. I say “try” because the church by our house is so busy! On special days, I can’t make a right hand turn to go 1/2 mile to get to the parish because the cars are lined up at least a mile down the street. I sit at the stop sign, hoping for someone to let me in. I’ve had to turn around and go home because nobody let me in. How Christian of them!
I do believe that Lent is a good time to reflect on our lives. One Ash Wednesday service in past years stands out to me. Rather than giving something up — like chocolate or alcohol — the priest suggested doing something. He talked about investing more time in prayer or volunteering to help someone else. He felt it should be a time of giving of ourselves. He suggested reading the book of Mark from the Bible during the 40 days of Lent.
I’m a convert to Catholicism so I had to learn about Lent. I didn’t grow up with it. My kids did and my daughter always said she was giving up piano lessons for Lent. Yes, she hated piano. I thought piano had so many benefits and forced her to take lessons, years beyond what I should have done, she often reminds me.
If you don’t observe Lent and wonder what it’s all about, here’s a definition from Britannica:
Lent, in the Christian church, a period of penitential preparation for Easter. In Western churches it begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry. In Eastern churches Lent begins on the Monday of the seventh week before Easter and ends on the Friday that is nine days before Easter. This 40-day “Great Lent” includes Saturdays and Sundays as relaxed fast days.
Here’s a link to Good Housekeeping’s article called 25 Creative Things to Give Up for Lent in 2021: From gossip and complaining to junk food and coffee, ditching these habits could change your life by Juliana Labianca. There are a lot of good ideas to do in that article that could improve your life — whether or not you observe Lent.
Another thing I’m doing is taking a 40-day Lenten Challenge on the Hallow App. It’s with Mark Wahlberg, Chris Pratt, Jonathan Roumie and Fr. Mike Schmitz. If you haven’t tried Hallow, I really enjoy it and recommend it to add to your prayer life.
Do you have plans for Lent? If so, what are they?
What are your thoughts about doing something as opposed to giving up something?
Superb ☺️☺️
👍🏼
Good morning dear Wickham . Wish you have a great day .
😊
God bless you my friend Wickham.
😊
I always thought Lent was in commemoration of loaning money to a friend or family member, knowing this was as good as burning your money into Ash.
Haha! Oh my goodness. You gave me a good laugh!
I like the idea of giving to or doing something. Thinking of others specifically and with kindness by doing/giving vs depriving oneself. That seems like a punishment in some ways.
I agree with you. Why not try to make a difference rather than deprive yourself? It was a new concept when I heard that priest bring up that idea on an Ash Wednesday years ago. He was the most loved priest in the Coachella Valley where we lived and had the most attendance. For a good reason.
Yes I can see that. He probably raised a number of eyebrows among many of his peers for trying to be a bit more forward thinking.
Everybody loved him in our area. He was not our priest, but we’d drive to listen to him in a nearby town. He’s retired now and married which raised some eyebrows, too!
Well good for him!
I agree!
Im doing nothing for Lent ..lapsed Catholic. Here’s my problem with giving something up …I know the whole sacrifice thing. But I don’t know if it makes anyone a better person. If something isn’t too bad for you, I’m the crap world we live in, should we give up.something that makes us happy? And if something is truly bad, shouldn’t the goal be to give it up? When I grew up people were always looking for the exceptions….I can do this because it’s Sunday or whatever. Doing something for 40 days, or giving up.something for 40 days doesn’t really change anything. However, if it makes someone feel better, then that’s their thing, and it’s ok.
OMG lapsed Catholic! I love this and may need to borrow for myself. 😅
Go for it!!
I am a lapsed Catholic for not going to mass except for major dates. My daughter calls that a CEO — Catholic on Christmas and Easter Only! It was COVID and moving that changed going to mass for me. One, it wasn’t allowed. Then moving, I wasn’t in my normal community.
CEO is great, too! Too funny.
I think it’s a real term! 😁
I totally understand. If you’re giving something up that is harming you, you should give it up already! I really enjoyed the priest who talked about what we could do to help others rather than give something up. I’m a lapsed Catholic since COVID and moving.
I do like the idea of helping others ..
Yes. I need to think about what I should do, even if it’s something simple like cleaning out may closet and donating to those in need like the residential home for trafficked women.
There are so many ways to help, and that’s one of them!
It seems so simple, but it’s doable!
Simple usually works!!
Exactly! 👍🏼
Thank you for the definition, Elizabeth, I am not Catholic yet fully respect the faith. Jesus is Jesus no matter. That’s such a sweet photo! God bless your lovely family my friend. ❤️🙏🏻✝️
Thank you, John. I agree. Jesus is Jesus. It doesn’t matter what denomination you follow.
I don’t have plans for Lent, but I grew up Catholic and attended Catholic schools, so am very familiar. I like the idea of doing something kind or thoughtful rather than giving something up. While I understand the analogy of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, I think reframing for selflessness could be even more effective. Fingers crossed you can make it to church!
Thanks. We raised our kids Catholic and they attended Catholic school, too. My parents were very active in our Presbyterian church and it was a big part of my childhood. After we got married, my husband and I attended different churches to see where we felt it was right for us. I felt so moved in the Catholic church. It’s hard to describe. Mass was a new experience for me. We wanted our kids to grow up with a religious background so I converted.
I am feeling grateful today because a lovely young father from the Latter Day Saints church in our tiny town is coming to play the antique organ at our historic Episcopal church for the Ash Wednesday service. We are a tiny congregation and none of us can play the organ so it’s literally been years since we’ve heard it. This kindness on his part is so special and appreciated. I love to see the community join hands and hearts. I hope you get to attend your service, Elizabeth!
That is such a great way to start Lent. I love organ music too. We did not have anyone playing organ in our church in Palm Springs either. We had more modern music. There’s something about the sound of an organ that makes it so regal and ethereal.
Your daughter is a natural comedienne! I love the idea of adding something for Lent. Seems like a great way to do a bit more!
She is funny. She was a joy to raise. She kept me laughing. Now she does stand up in San Francisco. She’s taking classes and they are required to perform at clubs.
This is gonna feel like I’m copying off of Wynne’s comment, but I had the same reaction…your daughter is too funny. And to read she’s doing stand-up – not surprised! 💝😊💝
I’m proud of her because for years she said she wanted to write comedy. Now she’s actually doing it and performing! Not only is she pursuing a dream, she doing something most people wouldn’t have the guts to do!
Amazing! One of my friends in my writer’s group writes comedy and has been on stage locally. She’s so brave!
So excited for your daughter…woohoo! 😉💝😉
That is brave! Congrats to your friend. Thanks for the encouraging comments for my daughter! 😊
You betcha! Super cool! 😉💝😉
😻
The comments are too funny Elizabeth. I’m trying to focus on praying more/giving to others instead of giving up. I’ll let you know how it goes. Let’s hope. Ha, ha.
I’m trying too! We’ll catch up later on how it goes!
I am not religious but I’m fully on board with giving something up for lent… like maybe doing the dishes. That said, I do like what that priest said. Maybe doing something for others for 40 days could be the beginning of a good habit.
So true. I don’t think giving up the dishes would work out that well, though. Best to find out how to help others! Especially those in more need than us.
Focusing on any good new habit for 40 days is a good idea. I like the father’s outward focus. We do way too much thinking of ourselves.
I did too. That sermon was the first time I had heard that take. It hit a note with me.
We are in Ramadan, the month of fasting. I hope your lent goes well too.
Thank you!
You’re welcome
😊
I’m not Catholic, but I’ve always appreciated the practice and sometimes do challenge myself to either do a new skill or give something up for a period of time. I think it’s not only healthy to do it, but helps you learn more about yourself.
That’s a great idea to challenge yourself to be better. I’ve seen Mark Wahlberg on several TV shows and commercials saying each Lent he pushes himself to be better and do more. He’s on the Hallow app that I’m following.
I don’t follow Christian Church protocol as I once did. I kind of feel guilty about that, but also, I shouldn’t. I DO love the idea of doing or giving of yourself for someone else instead of limiting something, which really does sound more Christian-like, right?
I have seen the ad’s for the Hallow App.
My friend, I love that photo of your kiddos, and I’m giggling at your daughter wanting to give up something she didn’t enjoy for Lent. She’s pretty AND brilliant!
I hope you were able to get into the church!
I wasn’t able to get into the church. But I do have the Hallow app for that. I really love listening to people on it like Marky Mark and Gwen Stefanie. It’s nice to know they are real human beings, too! My daughter has always been a crack up. I love that she’s doing stand up in San Francisco now. It’s a natural talent, I think.
She’s doing stand up?? That is absolutely amazing! I am in awe. That takes guts.
I know! I’m so proud that she is doing that.
I really like the idea of doing something instead of giving up something. Will think about that and will check out the Hallow app. Thanks for this post. 🙂
Your daughter was clever about what she wanted to give up. 😃
I’m really enjoying the Hallow app, especially the Lent challenge. My husband and I sit outside and listen to it together. My daughter hated piano and I should have listened to her!
Nice about sitting outside and listening to it together 🙂
Hindsight is 20/20 but I am sure you meant well. 😉
So true!
💕