40 Days
I was pretty surprised at how many ashy foreheads I saw on the streets yesterday, marking the start of the Lenten season.
Over the years, I've attempted to "give up" a bunch of things; some were really self-serving rather than Jesus-focused like desserts and non-essential email checking and non-essential personal spending.
In my U of T days, a friend and I tried to give up on complaining. It made us realize how many of our waking hours were devoted to complaining, how complaining was the basis for a majority of conversations. Another year, I tried to give up making sarcastic remarks. It helped stamp out that habit, for awhile.
In Shanghai, a friend of mine who was preparing for a marathon right after Lent gave up eating meat! I felt really sorry for him. Other friends in Shanghai that year gave up video games, tv, and the purchasing of pirated DVDs.
Last year in Boston, I encouraged the youth I was working with to consider observing Lent. They came up with some good stuff: the Kool-aid obsessed Jessica gave up Kool-aid. She sent me a text message at the crack of Easter Sunday dawn, celebrating her first sip after 40 days. Corina decided to try and "treat each person like they were king", and T gave up cursing. Some CCFC'ers last year gave up drinking any water that was not tap water in solidarity with the millions without clean drinking water. Yeah, that was something.
I haven't decided what to do this year yet. But I know I've been blessed and challenged by observing Lent over the years. Hope that all you people out there will consider giving something up too.
Over the years, I've attempted to "give up" a bunch of things; some were really self-serving rather than Jesus-focused like desserts and non-essential email checking and non-essential personal spending.
In my U of T days, a friend and I tried to give up on complaining. It made us realize how many of our waking hours were devoted to complaining, how complaining was the basis for a majority of conversations. Another year, I tried to give up making sarcastic remarks. It helped stamp out that habit, for awhile.
In Shanghai, a friend of mine who was preparing for a marathon right after Lent gave up eating meat! I felt really sorry for him. Other friends in Shanghai that year gave up video games, tv, and the purchasing of pirated DVDs.
Last year in Boston, I encouraged the youth I was working with to consider observing Lent. They came up with some good stuff: the Kool-aid obsessed Jessica gave up Kool-aid. She sent me a text message at the crack of Easter Sunday dawn, celebrating her first sip after 40 days. Corina decided to try and "treat each person like they were king", and T gave up cursing. Some CCFC'ers last year gave up drinking any water that was not tap water in solidarity with the millions without clean drinking water. Yeah, that was something.
I haven't decided what to do this year yet. But I know I've been blessed and challenged by observing Lent over the years. Hope that all you people out there will consider giving something up too.
posted by Duncan and Jen | 10:42 AM
4 Comments:
Last year, I gave up chocolate. It made me realize how much I relied on chocolate to pick me up when I was down - it made me draw closer to God when i didn't have chocolate to turn to anymore. i thought it was really odd that i should turn to something inanimate for comfort - kinda sad eh? i'll let you know what i give up this year...
i could never ever give up complaining. no sirree. or bitter sarcastic remarks.
have fun on your honeymoon! hope you enjoy stress-less time together without too many immigration officers breathing down your back...
Ms. Choi: how bout sugar and fats then? hehe.
i was suppose to give up blogs for lent - oh well... :)
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