Lent. Apparently last Wed. Feb. 17th, we entered into the annual time of "Lent". I didn't grow up in a church that observed Lent, so I never knew that much about it. Honestly, this is embarassing to admit, but I always thought it was a Jewish ritual. Guess I was WAY off about that! According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, Lent is:
Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Conventionally, it is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. The forty days represent the time that, according to the Bible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.[1]
This practice was virtually universal in Christendom until the Protestant Reformation.[2] Some Protestant churches do not observe Lent, but most, such as Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans, do.
The last few days, it seems I have heard from everyone what they are giving up for Lent. Some are giving up chocolate, red meat, fast food, sugar, caffeine, soda's... one friend is giving up her computer!! I looked on the calendar this morning, and it's exactly six weeks until Easter, so I feel like God's grace will understand that I know I'm a few days late, but I want to participate in Lent this year.
How do YOU decide what you are going to give up for Lent???? Do you pick something that you feel you can truly do without, so that you can succeed in your self-denial?? Or do you pick something that will really, really be hard to do without, so that it's truly a sacrifice?? But then, if you do THAT, what if you are weak and slip up? Arrggghhhh!! This is hard!!!!
HELP!!! Tell me.. what are you giving up for Lent? .. and how did you decide what it would be???
A JEWISH tradition??? LOL A coworker is giving up coffee and chocolate. At the same time. God help the rest of us. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're supposed to pick something that you love, not something that's easy to give up. Like, coffee. Pumpkin creamer. Well, pumpkin anything in your case. :)
Give up PUMPKIN?!?! Wow...that's asking alot. :-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't really do it this year, but last year I gave up gossiping and talking about others... I tied a small cord around my wrist to remind me. It actually made me become more aware of the things hat come out of my mouth in everyday speech.
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