Time to hammer out my Lenten gameplan.
Last year, my Lenten project/sacrifice was to pray and fast for an end to the Iraq War. The year before, I added a little liquid-only fasting to my routine, and the year before that I gave up soy on Fridays. (As a vegan, the usual Lenten Friday no-meat fast doesn’t require any sacrifice.)
This year, I’m going to try to give up caffeine, and spend an extra ten minutes each day in silent prayer.
If you have ideas, links, or projects to share, please add a comment. May your Lent be a powerful time!
Having been brought up Baptist and still at age 50 an active member of a Baptist Church, I never was exposed to the idea of practicing Lent. I have many friends that each year talk about what they are giving up and I each year would “daydream about what I would give up” and then end up not participating. 2009 will be different for me.
I am a social drinker and I am giving up alcohol for the Lent Season. I will attend an Ash Wednesday service with friends tonight and I will decide what else I will do. I like the idea of 10 extra minutes each day of prayer and meditation. I am already in the habit of meeting God daily (and have been for many years) FACING GOD BEFORE I FACE EACH DAY. This Lenten Season, I am excited to see what God wants to reveal to me personally as I continue to seek Him.
Mike, speaking as someone who was shocked to find that she was a bit addicted to the stuff when giving it up for pregnancy, I will pray that you don’t have a caffeine addiction! The headaches are something else!
We’ve been working with our kids, so they understand that it’s about more than tuna sandwiches on Friday.
Joan: Good luck with your Lenten plans. I gave up social drinking for Lent a few years ago, with mixed results. Since I don’t drink every day, I wasn’t giving something up every day, so it didn’t “feel like Lent” to me. YMMV.
Reading River Sims’s thoughts on starting spiritual exercises for Lent. A typically intense post.
That’s funny Tracy cause I gave my kids tuna sandwiches yesterday for Ash Wednesday.
Just wanted to suggest family rosary night or doing the Stations of the Cross on Fridays.
As a fellow vegan, but not a Catholic, I didn’t even consider the no-meat Friday bit…what are you doing this year?
Some of the people involved in the anti-torture project I’m working on have been observing a liquid-only fast on Fridays, and are continuing this through Lent until April 30 (Obama’s 100th day in office). That’s enough fasting for me! I remember the no-soy fast as being particularly annoying, and don’t see myself trying it again.
I remember the no-soy fast as being particularly annoying
Sorry for suggesting it!
Oh, I think the no-soy was ingenious, I think it just wasn’t the thing for that year. Maybe I’ll try it next year and see if I’m spritually tougher now :)
Joan, I was also raised Baptist and I have been participating in Lent for the last 3 years. As a Christian I felt compelled by The Holy Spirit to give things up. I plan on continuing to particpate in Lent the rest of my life.
This year I am also fasting from meat on Fridays & Ash Weds. My younger brother has also started particpating in Lent. This is his second year.
I do realize I have to search deep inside & listen to The Holy Spirit of what things I need to give up. Truly what you give up is between you and the Lord ultmately. But I realize I have work to do and now is the only time I have.