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weirdly enough i'm looking forward to it this year.
i'm planning to fast.
in a traditional way. no meat except sundays for the 40 days preceding easter.
this fasting is a means to an ends in christian tradition, not something done as punishment or looked at as good for its own sake. depriving oneself of something one enjoys is meant to remind you, every time you think of it, of how temporal our lives are, how everything around us is a gift, not something to which we are entitled....most of us in this culture could stand to be reminded that we are not entitled.
the fasting also works as a discipline. we use it as one way to feel closer to god. it is not mandatory, it is not the only way, but it does WORK if you have the right mindset about it and don't spend the whole time feeling resentful.
i am feeling mightily in need of spiritual discipline and focus this year.
i did not know anything about how to value lent, really until i went to seminary.
i'm also planning on SERIOUSLY having a good time on shrove tuesday (aka fat tuesday, mardi gras, carnival)
it is a time to drink much and party much so that one has much to be shriven for! (yes![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
vale797 i do KNOW better than this but it is a fun way to look at it).
and i chatted with the associate pastor at white bear lake umc this morning. i am planning to join.
i am exempt from the wednesday evening class because i have another obligation and because i could probably teach that class given my background.
but i asked if the church had anything written about the different traditions surrounding lent and found that they did not, so i am writing up a first draft of lenten traditions for my church that the pastors may edit or not at their pleasure.
it feels good.
i'm planning to fast.
in a traditional way. no meat except sundays for the 40 days preceding easter.
this fasting is a means to an ends in christian tradition, not something done as punishment or looked at as good for its own sake. depriving oneself of something one enjoys is meant to remind you, every time you think of it, of how temporal our lives are, how everything around us is a gift, not something to which we are entitled....most of us in this culture could stand to be reminded that we are not entitled.
the fasting also works as a discipline. we use it as one way to feel closer to god. it is not mandatory, it is not the only way, but it does WORK if you have the right mindset about it and don't spend the whole time feeling resentful.
i am feeling mightily in need of spiritual discipline and focus this year.
i did not know anything about how to value lent, really until i went to seminary.
i'm also planning on SERIOUSLY having a good time on shrove tuesday (aka fat tuesday, mardi gras, carnival)
it is a time to drink much and party much so that one has much to be shriven for! (yes
vale797 i do KNOW better than this but it is a fun way to look at it).and i chatted with the associate pastor at white bear lake umc this morning. i am planning to join.
i am exempt from the wednesday evening class because i have another obligation and because i could probably teach that class given my background.
but i asked if the church had anything written about the different traditions surrounding lent and found that they did not, so i am writing up a first draft of lenten traditions for my church that the pastors may edit or not at their pleasure.
it feels good.
