I never understood Lent.
Being brought up East-coast Episcopalian, complete with a clapboard church with a steeple, Lent wasn't something that ever sunk into my world.
The most I ever noticed it was when I would ask my pastor, a couple of weeks before Easter, why there were no flowers in the church. A couple of years later, I would wonder again and because I'm so thick around the head, I would ask again.
The answer never "took".
There I was, 17 and in my first year of college. And I had a professor teaching something about Lent. How it is considered '40 days" because we don't count the Sundays.
I burst out laughing. *ahem* Sorry.
This was the kind of skewed-up counting that made "On the 3rd Day He Rose Again" such a big pill to swallow.
Like I don't have a hard enough time with regular Math, I gotta learn Religious Math?
I've been Christian since I can remember. Don't get me wrong. I love Jesus.
But some doctrine just sends me right around the bend.
And giving up chocolate for any 40 days of my life ain't gonna happen.
I've reconciled myself to the possibility that I am taking a bag of Cadbury Bars with me to Hell.
1
I DID give up chocolate, and I am counting down the hours.
Posted by: abogada at April 14, 2006 03:19 AM (c+3Q4)
2
That's too funny.
As someone who sees lies, all I can say about religion is people lie today, they lied yesterday -- and we'll never really know what the truth was "back then". I don't buy much of it, that's for sure -- and I've accepted if hell it is -- hell I go.
Posted by: Eyes at April 14, 2006 03:23 AM (L67iN)
3
Being catholic schooled and raised , I feel a bit guilty today for not attending the 'Stations of The Cross'. I can just imagine Sister Edwards from grade school, giving the antsy, fidgety kids her 'evil eye'. Silly, because I havent been a practicing catholic in years..
Posted by: barngoddess at April 14, 2006 07:28 AM (y6n8O)
4
Our family, if we observe Lent (we don't, every year), we don't give anything up. Instead, we take something on. Like, deciding to say one nice thing to a sibling every single day. Or, doing a random act of kindness for someone every day. One year we all ate one more serving of fruits or vegetables than we would ordinarily.
I grew up Episcopalian. My parents converted to Catholicism. My family and I now attend a non denominational church. My husband grew up Baptist and Presbytarian and he doesn't follow the church calendar or many church customs. Hence our approach to Lent.
It works for us and the kids really get into it.
Posted by: paige at April 15, 2006 11:28 AM (LkJW2)
5
I gave up chocolate too, which was daft really, as my favourite cycle route takes me past the Cadbury's factory. I've been cycling that way a lot in the past few weeks, for the exquisite torture of dairy milk scented air. I can't wait for tomorrow...
Posted by: Anna at April 15, 2006 11:43 AM (6bI5A)
6
Why? Why am I being denied the ability to comment? I've been nice!
Posted by: Tammy at April 15, 2006 02:07 PM (M++hX)
7
I'm all about the chocolate. I don't celebrate Lent either. I'm Pentecostal and I don't celebrate Easter either. I just can't celebrate a pagan holiday in relation to Jesus.
But I do enjoy Cadbury.
Posted by: Melissa at April 15, 2006 02:37 PM (RcXdn)
8
yeah. I read something about passover not necessarily being just before saturday which makes a difference about the 3 days. Lent. who cares. Presbyterians don't make a fuss except the hymns get depressing. I don't give up anything.
I think they should make things a little better understood too cuz otherwise they're taking us for complete and utter fools.
Which we are not.
Posted by: Jeannie at April 16, 2006 02:11 PM (vjpEO)
9
If it's hellbound you are (which I sincerely doubt) I'll meet you there. I'll bring the ice cream.
Posted by: Margi at April 16, 2006 04:13 PM (BRtaN)
10
On counting: the Sundays are feast days (when you can eat your chocolate!) so that is why they are not counted.
Posted by: Chris at April 18, 2006 04:21 AM (qwrzH)
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