This is topic My Fellow Lent Practitioners... in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
So, what is everyone (who does it) giving up this year?

Last year I successfully gave up all pop. This year I'm giving up pop AND fast food, which I expect will not only be a challenge, but will also save me money and improve my health.

It should be hard, I love my Taco Bell, which I visit once weekly or so, and I also love my Pepsi. I make an exception for a slurpee here and there, but otherwise I stay true.

What's everyone else up to? And how does it compare to previous years? Also, how was everyone's Paczki Day?
 

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Posted by Rotar Mode (Member # 9898) on :
 
I'm not a Christian, but I wish all practitioners good luck.
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 
I want to give up something. But I just last week went on a very low carb diet (again), and a few months prior to that, I finally gave up caffeine for good. I can't think of anything else I should give up, maybe complaining or something like that? Maybe saying or thinking anything uncharitable about anyone? Maybe staying up too late? (that would be really really hard!)

I need ideas fast!

Oh, and happy mardi gras everyone!
 

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Posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick (Member # 9302) on :
 
I'm Maronite, so my Lent began on Ash Monday. I'm trying to give up self-deception, among other things.
 

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Posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick (Member # 9302) on :
 
Also, I ate one Paczki. And it was small and overpriced. Grr.

Me wanna pounchkie...

Wahhh!
 

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Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
 
I was raised Catholic and for some reason Lent is something I've held onto...

I'm giving up the soda I have with lunch everyday (along with the chips I occasionally have), I'm doing the elliptical before work everyday (this is really going to be the hardest because I loves me the snooze) and I'm going to really work on my cursing. I'm going to donate 5 cents to a dish every time I do and at the end find a charity to donate it to.

My Mom always says it's about not doing and doing more. Who knows if I'm 'right' in what I choose for lent, but I'm goin' for it...

Usually I give up cookies, candies, sweet desserts, fries, curly fries, soda, chips, all fast food and saying bad things about family member 'x'. I quit with most of them a while ago so I thought it was best to switch it up this year.

I didn't really 'feast before the fast' this year... So it was more a day where I ate a whole 'big grab' bag of Cheetos (sp?) with my sandwich and had a Dr. Pepper instead of a Sprite at lunch (gosh, i eat like a middle school kid)... How gross is that??!
 

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Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
 
I just looked up Maronites on Wikipedia and got a lot of history but a surprising lack of theology. Why does Lent begin on Ash Monday for you?
 

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Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
 
I just looked it up and it mentioned seven full weeks of Lent?
 

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Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
 
I have been contemplating this myself. I gave up fast food for my New Year's resolution, for the whole year. I've done that several times. I started doing that by giving it up for lent several times.

I'm considering soda pop. I thought about chocolate, but I'm not sure I can give up chocolate for that long. I'm undecided.

Even in the years before now that I gave up on the church, I always tried to stick to lent. Something about giving up and sacrificing that appeals to me. I am excited about this lenten season.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
My best friend doesn't understand it when people give things up when they aren't religious.

She thinks it's rather stupid, which led to a rather...loud, argument between the two of us, because I'm not very religious, but I also practice Lent every year.

I've never been able to explain it to her and actually have her understand at the end.
 

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Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
 
I am trying to give up cursing. When I get frustrated I often use a bad word and I have a 2 year old so I get frustrated a great deal of the time. I never really thought about how ugly it sounded until I heard my little girl repeat it so I am try ing SO hard to be good. She's testing my will though. I am exhausted right now because I am in the first trimester with her new sibling and I am just tired and sick and on a short fuse so this should be a real test of fortitude. Did I also mention I have to be on a special diet the whole time now due to gestational diabetes? I am frazzled! Does Frac count?
 

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Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
 
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who raised Catholic, lapsed, but still likes to give things up for lent. My husband does not understand it and for the past few years, I haven't given anything up because every time I tell him I am, he asks why I would if I'm not Catholic. (He still is a devout Catholic but does not give anything up himself, so that probably doesn't help.) It's really annoying to try to explain. It's just a tradition, it's something I've always done. It's a matter of self-discipline, of nothing else, and a chance to try to improve myself. And really first and foremost, it's about sacrifice. I admit that I'm not so sure about Jesus, but I do believe that making sacrifices for our fellow man is noble.

The fish on Friday thing is totally traditional, though. Plus, I love fish.

This year, I'm going to give up desserts. I was thinking of giving up eating out but I think we may have to go out of town in the next week or two and that never works on the road. I may give up eating out for any other reason than being out of town.

I think I won't mention it to my husband so he doesn't have a chance to change my mind.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Christine:
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who raised Catholic, lapsed, but still likes to give things up for lent.

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Me, too.

I'm giving up rolling my eyes. I know this sounds trivial, but it affects my mood so much. I've been quite impatient lately, and I've been procrastinating, and these are both enabled and encouraged by private seething.

Trivial, but it will be hard for me, and I think I'll be the better for it.
 

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Posted by Omega M. (Member # 7924) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Tatiana:

I want to give up something.

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quote:

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I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who raised Catholic, lapsed, but still likes to give things up for lent. My husband does not understand it and for the past few years, I haven't given anything up because every time I tell him I am, he asks why I would if I'm not Catholic.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Omega M.:

quote:

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Originally posted by Tatiana:

I want to give up something.

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I thought you were Mormon. Do Mormons follow Lent?

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I'm LDS but fairly heterodox, and I was raised Catholic, and I like to do religious things of various religions. The fact that it's not even required for my own faith just means it's more voluntary so I feel it even more, I think. God finds all of them good, as far as I can tell.

Still haven't thought of what I should do, though.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
Slipped already.
 

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Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
 
no

caffeine


losing


power
 

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Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
 
(Doh!)

Hey, it's a work in progress!
 

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Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
 
I'm giving up meat. But not for lent, just because I feel it's the right thing to do. I've only slipped up once since making that decision, and that was because my mom didn't tell me there was sausage in the soup she made. >.<
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Will B:
(Doh!)

Hey, it's a work in progress!

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*grin

That's the spirit!

(But work just brings out the eye-rolling in me lately. Augh. Augh. I knew this would be hard.

I sometimes think other people are such a huge pain to deal with. Then I remember what a huge pain I am to deal with, and I go sit in my quiet corner. )
 

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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
I'm not Christian, and I wasn't raised a Christian either. I grew up in a secular household and am today a proud agnostic. None of that stops me from observing Lent, which I have done for many years now.

Like Lyrhawn, I am giving up soda and fast food. I gave up caffeine one year (which was very difficult--no tea), but that didn't stop me from drinking root beer or clear citrus sodas. This year I'm giving up soda, period, as well as fast food.

And to forestall any of the questions about why I would do this if I'm not Catholic, blah blah blah, let me just say that a good custom is a good custom, wherever it comes from. I don't know, from my own experience, whether there is a God, and I certainly can't claim to know if He cares one way or the other about whether I stop off at McDonalds for a Big Mac and a cola between now and Easter. For me, that isn't the point. Lent isn't about spirituality for me. It's about discipline and self-improvement. By giving up certain things that I love--or at least indulge in too much--for such a long period of time each year, I prove to myself that I still can go without such things. I have a fundamental weakness for some things which are bad for me, and Lent is as good a pretext as any to practice strength and try to make myself a more disciplined person. That, I believe, is a perfectly noble goal, regardless of side issues like upbringing or this or that particular theology.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
When does Lent start?
I want to give up (no, not chocolate altogether, grah!) eating unhealthy food for a long time and also give up spending money in an irresponsible sort of way...
I need to trainf or the future and what is coming, but i really must finish this darn cake first... why the heck did I even make a cake?
I am a heathen, but Verily makes good points. I'd like to improve myself.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.
 

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Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
 
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, which is today.
 

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Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
 

 

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Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
 
I went to the park today and was taken aback by the smudge of dirt on one man's forehead before I remembered it's Ash Wednesday.

I had a good friend who was Catholic and answered a lot of my questions about Lent a few years ago (since I have never practiced it). I do have a question though. I understand that Lent is a period of 40 days before Easter in which to prepare for Easter, but that it's not really 40 days because you don't count the Sundays, as they are traditionally always Feast days. Does that mean if you're giving something up for Lent you can indulge in it on Sundays? I'm assuming not, but I don't really understand all the details.
 

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Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
 
It's up to the individual. But yes you could indulge on Sundays and still be fully observing Lent. Fasting only on Fridays and/or Wednesdays is also a traditional observance. But, IMO, giving up something like chocolate only on Fridays would be kind of lame. Although, I suppose if you had a regular tradition of going out for chocolate cake on Fridays after work and gave that up it might be a significant discipline.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
Gah! I really need to get rid of that darn cake.
I think I will give up being a slob. I really need to do that and have some ruddy discipline, but it seems like sooner or later I will miss being usch a happy little sloth...
Soon I won't have that luxury anymore...
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by dkw:

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Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
 
I'm giving up soda. I've only finished Lent successfully twice (and I do allow myself reprieve on Sundays, depending on my sacrifice). One year, with a Muslim friend as an inspiration, I gave up solid foods during daylight hours. That was hard.

-Bok
 

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Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
I went to Catholic school from K-12, and what most of my friends and their families did was give themselves a reprieve from whatever they gave up on Sundays during Lent. I.e., if they gave up fast food, Sunday they would go to McDonalds.
 

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Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Bokonon:
I gave up solid foods during daylight hours. That was hard.

-Bok

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Most good blenders come with a "liquify" setting. I'm just sayin'.
 

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Posted by Maliam (Member # 9915) on :
 
I am Byzantine Catholic myself which from what I have seen is simular to the Maronite like with Ash Monday starting Lent. I seem to be thinking it has something to do with Holy week(the week before easter) not being considerd part of Lent, but that would require a week earlyer start rather then two days, so I am proby atleast partly off on that. I can't remeber the reason exactly but I can talk to my mom to find out about that.

As for Sundays, Sundays are considerd a day of celebration so any type of fasting isn't requied to be observed but some people still choose to.

[ February 21, 2007, 04:01 PM: Message edited by: Maliam ]
 

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Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
 
Noemon, this being a spiritual endeavor, I think not following the spirit of the thing would have been willfully disregarding it

-Bok
 

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Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
I was just joking. I'm aware that the point of spiritual endeavors isn't to find the loophole that allows you to continue business as usual.
 

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Posted by Maliam (Member # 9915) on :
 
Ok I talked to my mom and heres the reason it starts on Mon. In the eastern Catholic church(or at the least Maronite and Byzantine) Sundays are included in the 40 days, but are still taken as time off from fasting and the fast of lent ends on the friday before Lazurus(sp?) Saturday. Then on the following Monday a new fast for Holy week starts. So it basicly comes down to a few days differance in whats part of Lent.
 

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Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
 
Instead of a burger n' shake it's a burger in shake.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
(I got the Funny, Noemon, just so you know. But you are a very dry man at times. Practically chamoised. *smile)

Successfully averted eyeroll tally: 4
Unsuccessful sinning eyeroll tally: 1

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Edited to add:

Picture of me, so that you can properly visualize me straining to control my eye muscles. I'm the one with the baby on my lap.
 

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Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
 
Instead of a burger n' shake it's a burger in shake.
 

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Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
 
Mmm...
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I'm Mormon and while I don't formally "give up" anything for Lent, I do observe it as a time of... solemn reflection, I guess you'd say. I try to focus on Christ and how I can be more Christlike and strengthen my observance of my religion, instead of doing "fun" things that kind of detract (like watching movies that may not be the most wholesome, etc.) I find that every year I have a need to do this again, so obviously it doesn't carry over to the whole year, so it's definitely something to work on.

I have Armenian Catholic friends who "fast" for Lent (meaning, for them, no meat, no butter, no cheese, no chocolate, no sweets, no soda, no "rich" foods, no "treats" whatsoever. Small amounts of fish and vegetarian dishes, predominantly.)
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
I could try that. Is there a rule about gradually quitting?

What I would like to do is not add to the beligerence of the world and be polite and respect people and be compassionate.
But I want to do that every single day.
 

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Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
 
There are some principles I have heard for making a stretch, or resolution, that really works:

Specific
Time-related ("once a day" or "before Thursday")
Measurable
Limited

Too bad that doesn't make an acronym.
 

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Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Bokonon:

One year, with a Muslim friend as an inspiration, I gave up solid foods during daylight hours. That was hard.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Will B:
Specific
Time-related ("once a day" or "before Thursday")
Measurable
Limited

Too bad that doesn't make an acronym.

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You caught my creative attention. It's not there yet -- best I can do is DIMS (Durational, Impeded, Measurable, Specific), but that is unsatisfactory for many reasons.

Ha! Every time I am tempted to , I'll meditate on the problem.

Successfully averted eyeroll tally: 12 (I am disgusting)
Unsuccessful sinning eyeroll tally: 1 + 1 eye-widening (but no roll!)
 

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Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by cmc:
One thing that got me was that there was a reading about how when you pray, don't be like the hypocrites and do it on the street corner etc - do it privately. I was thinking to myself, well, isn't this black on my forehead announcing it?? I guess, since it's supposed to be just a reminder that we're 'ash to ash' it works out - but I'm still not clear on how it's not announcing that I prayed today...

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quote:

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Originally posted by Will B:
There are some principles I have heard for making a stretch, or resolution, that really works:

Specific
Time-related ("once a day" or "before Thursday")
Measurable
Limited

Too bad that doesn't make an acronym.

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quote:

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Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese:
kmboots, that's excellent. It will be my new meditation, now that Lyrhawn has solved the acronym.

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I'm glad you like it! We kind of rock with the symbolism stuff. Here's a more complete description:

http://oldstpats.org/events/news/the_question_for_lent_2007_whats_in_the_way.html
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
Thanks, Kate.
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 
I figured out what I'm doing for Lent. I work on the 6th floor, which is 6 floors above ground level, in my building, and I've started taking the stairs every workday at least once all the way up from the ground floor, and once all the way down. It's 20 steps per floor, so 120 steps each way. When I get over being sore, I will go ahead and do it twice a day at least. It's a good thing for me right now, since I'm terribly out of shape. If I get to the point that I can do it easily, then I will start running up.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
That sounds like a very achievable plan, Tatiana. It fits the LAST model, too.
 

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Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
Tatiana, good plan!

I have decided that "what's in the way" for me - metaphorically, spiritually, and quite literally - is the amount of stuff, junk, trash, in my apartment. I am terrible at throwing things away. Because, someday, I might need fifteen cardboard boxes or fifteen dozen plastic grocery bags. Or clothes and jewelry that I haven't even looked at in ten years. Box of old watches anyone?

So I'm cleaning and getting stuff out. Anyone know of a Chicago area charity that picks up? Some of this stuff (not the grocery bags) is still in good shape.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
You could try freecycle. Hmmm ...

*goes looking

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Edited to add (as I find things):

JustGive.org has a general list of weblinks

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Not a lot going on except for car donations, at least online. Here is a list of 174 "thrift" stores (but I see many consignment shops, too) that you could research individually. Not much fun to slog through, though. I'll keep looking.

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Ah, this is much better. The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County has compiled a list of where to take clothing and miscellaneous donations, and some specify pickups.

[ February 24, 2007, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
There are stores around here that accept plastic bags for recycling, you could check your local stores or recycle centers. But they also make excellent shipping packaging...
 

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Posted by katdog42 (Member # 4773) on :
 
This year I am sticking with my traditional giving up snacking between meals. In addition to that, I am doing extra volunteer work in our health care facility. I need to do something that will help me to see Christ in others so I picked something that will force me to work consistently with people. So far it has been wonderful.

Today, I attended a beautiful talk on the season of Lent that has really inspired to make this season one, not just of repentance and self-denial, but also a time to really focus on opening myself up to God's love. I want to clear out all of the junk in my life so that I can allow more room for God to enter. I am really excited about the season of Lent and the coming of Easter!

I hope everyone has a great season!

Kat
 

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Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
 
I too am excited and enjoying the season. I couldn't have picked a better time to get back into the church. I'm seeing the church and the religion in such a new light and understanding things I never did before about catholicism. I especially appreciated the talk today the father gave about renewal during lent as well as repentence.

It's good to be able to share this experience, and to see others experiencing the same enjoyment of the season. It is very encouraging.
 

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Posted by Maliam (Member # 9915) on :
 

quote:

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One thing that got me was that there was a reading about how when you pray, don't be like the hypocrites and do it on the street corner etc - do it privately. I was thinking to myself, well, isn't this black on my forehead announcing it?? I guess, since it's supposed to be just a reminder that we're 'ash to ash' it works out - but I'm still not clear on how it's not announcing that I prayed today...

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