But I'm not Catholic, so the question remains — what to give up?
People are giving up Facebook for Lent. I like my Facebook account just fine, but I'm not that attached to it; I can (and sometimes do) go days without checking it. It would be easy, but that defeats the purpose.
People are giving up email, or the Internet. Can't do that; I've got too much that I do each day that has to be done via the Internet and email. I'd lose my job if I tried that, even for 40 days.
Food would be a good idea; my wife opined this morning that they must have named Fat Tuesday after me. But I've always thought it was cheating to use a holy fast to try to lose weight; it misses the point. So no to that one, too.
Finally I decided that I would give up something easily as precious as anything I've mentioned: time. Lent is meant to prepare you spiritually for the celebration of the Resurrection, so I am taking that seriously. Each day, a pause: contemplation, prayer, meditation, study. Being the church history geek that I am, I've chosen a Lenten reading schedule based on the writings of the fathers of the Early Church. I look forward to reading these writings in preparation for the celebration of Christianity's greatest holy day.
Article comments
1 - Dr Dreadful
I'm giving up giving things up for Lent for Lent.
2 - duane
Dr. D., you're relentlessly silly.
I'm giving up not sleeping enough. I might also give up not watching TV for more than six hours a day (one of my little rules). It's sounds tough, yeah, but I'm pretty disciplined when it comes to God and stuff.
3 - Dr Dreadful
Rigid adherence to a healthy diet of sleeping and TV watching? Damn, Duane, you're strict.
Either that or you're pragmatic and have teenagers.
4 - Baronius
Interesting article, Warren. Don't forget the potential spiritual value of a little self-denial, though. Every religion has asceticism, but as Christians our relationship to it is different. We believe that God endured physical pain for us. So (as you rightly noted) we sacrifice as a means to an end.
5 - El Bicho
"That's the question on everyone's lips right now."
Sorry, but no.