Two years ago I gave up worry for lent. Yup, worry.
I made that decision when:
I was on my own for the first time,
my dad was declining w/ Alzheimer disease (therefore his level of care and the cost of his care was on an incline and
despite my fear of numbers I was doing his finances),
my dog was having leg surgery,
I was dating for the first time in years,
and I decided to give up worry!
It was absolutely life changing and for the most part, it has stuck. It takes several weeks to form a habit – and lent proved to be long enough. I have to admit that I read a LOT of Buddhist works (Thich Nhat Hanh and Pema Chodron were on speed dial) and more than a few bible passages to get there, and there have been plenty of mini-setbacks, but it is truly freeing to accept what is, live in the moment, and not utterly freak out about the future.
So. . .that was so successful that I tried to give up judgment last year.
I’m not that judgmental, in fact, I’m rather easy going. It seemed like a doable task. A few of my co-workers could give you the exact timing . . . I think it lasted about two hours. I’m not sure why those little judgmental thoughts keep creeping in. They just do. So. . . giving up judgment is still on the table as an option. I’ve given other Lenten sacrifice options below, and I’d like to hear what you’d suggest for a meaningful, challenging, sacrifice.
Some possible, yet unoriginal, ideas:
1) Taking the train three days a week (declared that as a New Year’s Resolution and haven't exactly - or not at all - followed through)
2) Healthy eating (did I mention unoriginal?)
3) Giving up chocolate (working on this one by not constantly raiding the candy drawer at work – a successful resolution). Isn’t this on a list handed out to kids at catechism?
. . . . see . . . I need suggestions!
So. . . feel free to throw your ideas in the ring.
Unless something amazing comes up, lent 2009 will be a judgment-free time in my life.
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Here's the thing - for many reasons I don't believe in the Lenten Sacrifice. Below is one reason.
Mark 2:18-20
18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19 Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.
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It seems to me that the bridegroom is still with us during the time we call Lent. This is the time when Jesus was making his last ditch effort to teach his followers what they needed to know to carry on after he was "taken away." I can see fasting and making sacrifices on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, but those prior "40 days," if one is to do something, I think should be given to deep study.
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