What I'm giving up for Lent

As a Lutheran, we didn't really give anything up for Lent - Lent is the Christian season leading up to Easter. I had quite a few Catholic friends who gave up things like soda pop, chocolate, swearing, etc. and the Friday Night Fish Fry was quite a popular event in town during Lent.  As Lent is generally observed by a fasting (giving up). It's to set aside time in reflection of Jesus Christ and the events leading up to his death and resurrection.

So, the Lenten season begins today, with Ash Wednesday.  As Lutherans, again, well, we have an Ash Wednesday service though we don't have the ashes put on our foreheads but, as a Lutheran, I know what this time means.  I've actually been heading toward this for a few days without really realizing what time it was and/or that what I was feeling was a part of Lent.

Over these next 40 days, I plan to take my time in reflection and mindfulness (borrowing these words from a friend).  I understand what I mean but, I want to take these 40 days, and be more aware of my actions, my kindness, my thoughts, my direction. To bring more attention when I'm judgmental, unkind, critical of others, you know not acting or presenting myself as a good, or Godly Christian should.

Of course I did my research, I don't generally speak, let alone write until I'm certain but, I found this article on the season of mindfulness, also called Lent and I found it to be quite interesting.  We don't often take time to reflect upon ourselves.  To come face to face with our faults and work to clean them up.

I'm not saying any of this as well as the article linked above and if I try to go any further, I'll end up plagiarizing her story.

I hope you'll think about this practice as well.