about Lent

I am not a Catholic. Nowadays, I'm not even a church-goer. I was raised in an incredibly accepting, liberal Episcopalian church where I was encouraged to challenge accepted doctrines and think for myself when it comes to Christianity and spirituality in general. (Shout out to St. Andrew's of Des Moines) As a result, I consider my current relationship with God(de), Mother Earth, Buddha, Allah, whichever name you subscribe to to be pretty rock solid. I subscribe to Jesus the Hippie-Christ's teachings about compassion toward my fellow humans and the world. Considering my own interpretation of things is pretty loosie-goosie liberal, it may come as a shock that I have decided, for the first time since, oh, going through confirmation, to give something up for Lent.

I'm taking the 40-day challenge like most of the giver-uppers of the world: As an opportunity to change a habit I've adopted for my hopeful betterment. Now, I suppose that's a fairly selfish way of looking at things considering what a total giver Jesus was. Maybe our Lenten fasts would be better directed at the less fortunate. Giving the $3 a day you spend on morning coffee to a charity of your choice, perhaps. Well, in my case, just letting that $3 a day sit in my charity-case of a bank account.

I guess my point is, whether it's counting calories (which I've also vowed to give up NOT doing), admonishing Facebook, or ridding your vocabulary of curse words, if it takes a little push from religious guilt (or inspiration from a cool peace-and-love prophet) to make you work a little harder, so be it. As I count my calories and brew my own coffee, I send all of you the best of luck in your own life-changes. May we continue them well past our 40 days.