This year for Lent, I gave up several things:
Fast food
Candy
... and the F word.
Lent as PZ understands it: We sacrifice to recognize the ultimate sacrifice that was made for us. However, I believe that we also make sacrifices to better ourselves, whether that be physically, mentally, spiritually... God wants us taking care of our bodies and minds, and Lent is a great way to work on that, as well as give thanks for the life of His only son.
Lenten sidenotes:
- I know that Sundays aren't included in the 40 days of lent, but I try not to indulge then either.
- I give this year's Lenten effort a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. Nothing to brag about. While honoring God and the church by making sacrifices should be motivation enough for me not to cheat, apparently I need a little more help...
Last night at Easter Mass when the collection basket came to me, I realized that I didn't have any cash, as usual. Then I had an idea. Next year, my sacrifices will have a dollar amount attached. When I cheat on one, the corresponding dollar amount goes in a jar. For example...
Fast food = $20 per cheat. As I see it, this one is pretty easy to avoid.
Candy = $5 per cheat. This is also easy to avoid, but I should have counted "after dinner treats" from restaurants.
F word = $1 per cheat. Considering this is pretty much my favorite word in the English language, this is a HUGE fee.
This year would have looked something like this...
Lent 2011 total:
$120(YIKES!)
+
$20 (at least)
+
$100 (given my alcohol-induced cheating rule)
=
$240 big ones for the Big Guy
I think the Newman Center would have been VERY thankful.
How did Lent go for you??
1 comment:
Peppermints DO Not count as candy! I gave up Starbucks... and tried to go to mass every Sunday... made it twice. Fail.
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