What are you going to give up on Lent?

by DoubleVision 28 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  donny

  I wish I could give up on lent. That stuff keeps clogging my dryer filter.
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  lisavegas420

  My second husband and his family were Catholics'. Every year for lent, my husbands dad gave up alcohol (whiskey) but would drink beer and would go to church everyday. His mom gave up icecream, but would eat icemilk.

  Then on Easter Sunday they'd have a BIG hoohaw,shindig.......everyone drinking and getting really drunk.

  It never bothered me, I just thought it was interesting.

  Oh I just remembered this too..The dad, stole a huge cross from the church kept it on their piano...he would put his lottery tickets under the cross every week. He never hit big, a few bucks here and there.

  lisa
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  FlyingHighNow

  You don't have to give something up. You can also work on developing a good habit.
• 

  primitivegenius

  speaking to my parents....................... the fact they are die hard jws.......... and i have made it clear i am no longer one............. wont be to much of a stretch. that and the fact they havent spoken to me in probably 6 months anyways......... whats another 40 days(years)
• 

  LouBelle

  nudda.

  I know people that give up things such as sending txt messages, or not going on the internet - yes that is how they feel they draw closer to god.
• 

  chickpea

  i grew up catholic and have had my share
  of ashes on the forehead and candles at
  my throat ..... one has to have a faith in a
  god that approves of one's community of faith
  in said god in order for those rituals to be meaningful

  not my community
  not my ritual
  so there is nothing meaningful
  in the practice of abstinence
  or deprivation for me....

  but if there was>>>
  giving up coffee would be hell!!!
• 

  FlyingHighNow

  I grew up Episcopalian or Anglican Catholic. I love the rituals and church calendar, but I have been slightly oblivious to it this year.

  In these modern times, Lent can serve as a time of reflecting on our blessings and being mindful that others in our vast earth are not enjoying the same level of blessings.

  I am unusual in that I do not believe Jesus' death is sacrificial in the same sense as a typical Christian believes it is. I don't believe he died to buy us back out of death, like we came into this world owing a debt to God. I don't believe that at all. I do believe he came to the earth and served humankind selflessly while he was here. He spoke down the hypocrites and reminded us that loving our creator and fellow humans, in the true definition of the word love, is much more important than following some man's legalistic idea of God's expectations of humans.

  I believe he came to tell us there is hope beyond the perils of this world, for every single one of God's creatures. I believe he demonstrated what the power of love can do. I believe he set an amazing example of the kinds of things we can do to demonstrate love to God and our fellow humans. Some examples of this love are speaking up against religious control and hypocrisy, if need be, of the type the Pharisees, scribes and priests were guilty. Loving people enough not to judge harshly or unfairly. Helping people who are in need, whether it be due to illness, economic harships, or being locked into harmful religious belief systems.

  Jesus wasn't afraid of lepers, the poor, the tax collectors, the fringes of society. He wasn't afraid to speak up, not even when his own life was under threat. He also showed how commercialism and spirituality do not have a place together, when he cleared the temple.

  The point I am leading to is that Lent can be a time to reflect and count our blessings. If you don't give something up, to help in your daily awareness, then you can do volunteer work, cultivate a new habit that will help you, others or both. God is not someone who wants human beings to wield unhealthy control and fear over others. He wants a healing in our world and our individual and collective spirits. He wants reconcilation of all of us to love. He is LOVE. We are all down here making daily use of our free will. And he watches us do it like we watch our own children learn from their choices. And it does get painful at times, but I always remember Mother Val's words, "All things will be reconciled in Heaven." We can't understand the reasons for everything happening now, or exactly who is responsible for this world running amok in the first place, but light, hope and peace have been placed before us. Lent is a good time to remember this.

  Oh, and it is fine if you don't agree with me. We are all on our own spiritual journeys.
• 

  caliber

  God is not someone who wants human beings to wield unhealthy control and fear over others. He wants a healing in our world and our individual and collective spirits. He wants reconciliation of all of us to love. He is LOVE

  light, hope and peace have been placed before us

  .

  FHN.... You words of faith hope and love even in the face of your own adversities inspires me constantly !!

  Caliber
• 

  Farkel

  :What are you going to give up on Lent?

  Easter.

  Farkel