Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Friends, Romans, Countrymen - LENT me your ears!


So, we're in the midst of LENT right now.
For those of you who are heathens, LENT is the thirty days prior to Easter. It is the time from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. Historically, this is a time of penance and reflection for the faithful. During this time, believers choose something near and dear to them to "give up" for Lent. This is a symbolic practice which is meant to remind us of the sacrifices Christ made on our behalf.

Traditional items that you might give up are indulgences like soda, chocolate, dessert, or television. Additionally, some people choose to give up temptations like cigarettes and alcohol. A brave devout few even dare to give up SEX! (Though, let's face it, they probably weren't getting much play to begin with.)

I saw this postcard on POST SECRET, which is one of my favorite sites. Additionally, I heard someone say that they were giving up MySpace for LENT. It got me to thinking...in this modern age we live in, where we have so much accessible, what is a true sacrifice? What is really going to hit home with us and make the meaning of Lent real?
Could you live without your cell phone/crackberry? Maybe you need to give up American Idol for Lent? Perhaps it's your daily dose of Perez Hilton? Hmmm...
Just curious, what are you giving up for LENT (if anything)? If not, what do you think would be a suitable modern sacrifice?
THOUGHTS???