People observing Lent--how is it going?
I hope this isn't an annoying question from a 'non-Lententeer'
But we had a thread about Lent awhile ago, and I thought of it again (enduring yet another ad for Fillet-o-Fish ;)
I was just wondering of those who were enduring life without coffee/sugar/chocolate and so forth how things were going...
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20 Comments:
its tough, but I'm staying true. This is the first time I've ever observed lent, and I thought it would be tough at first and then I'd get used to it. But actually it was easier in the beginning, then it got more difficult. I'm just barely getting used to it now. I think it will be weird when lent is over and I can drink again.
blankplate at 8:02AM on 03/31/09
As for going without certain foods, you do get used to it. A lot depends on what you decide to give up. I gave up wheat, almost as much to see if it's causing problems in my system as much as because I lovelovelove bread, pasta, and bready snacks.
I do feel cleansed in several ways, and relieved of the burden of an inordinate attachment to it. And I've been able to try non-wheat products, like rice pasta and gluten-free things, which aren't half bad.
(From a standpoint of faith, though, and to be fair to your question, the thing I have to keep foremost in my mind is not so much that I'm "going without" for some self-centered or religious legalistic reason but rather to deepen my relationship with God by avoiding gluttony. Wheat-products were really almost that for me.)
moibec at 8:50AM on 03/31/09
I'm hanging in there. I don't really miss the caffeine all the much at this point (at the beginning it was hard to wake up and not have my regular morning cup of green tea), but I do still miss hard alcohol - I really long for a gin and tonic after work! Honestly, though, it's harder for me to stay on top of the other Lenten practices (increased prayer, almsgiving), than it is for me to give up things.
Junie at 9:14AM on 03/31/09
No problem here. It's a walk in the park.
izatryt at 9:28AM on 03/31/09
I want a cheeseburger so badly!
brittj8585 at 9:39AM on 03/31/09
i gave up fries. i'm having a hard time with it, especially as march has sucked badly, and all i crave is a big plate of fries. but i havent caved. easter dinner will be a pile of fries with a side of ham, and i'm not kidding about this!
french tart at 9:43AM on 03/31/09
I've totally blown it. I had oral surgery and from which I am still not fully recovered. There were a couple of weeks where all I couldn't eat anything harder than yogurt, so drank a lot of chicken/beef broth. Once I was able to sorta start eating again, I ate whatever, with no regard to my Lenten giveup of meat/chick/fish. And I'm cursing. I suck.
This is the first time in years I didn't stick with it.
chisai at 11:39AM on 03/31/09
I gave up bacon, and asked BF to do the same. Neither of us is religious, but what the hay. My family used to participate when I was younger.
I'm not sure if this counts as cheating: There was a jar of bacon fat in the fridge from before Lent. I used some of it in tomato sauce. I haven't served or eaten the sauce yet. Maybe I should just freeze it.
Kerosena at 11:55AM on 03/31/09
I never understood why fish is OK on Fridays. Meat is the muscle tissue of animals. When you eat fish you are eating their muscle tissue and they are definitely animals. If you ask a vegetarian, fish counts as meat.
Barbieri13 at 12:40PM on 03/31/09
I am a pretty strict lent observer--totally vegan, it's an Orthodox thing. It's always a little tricky at the begining, but then I get into habits of eating certain foods (I'm in college so the dining hall has pretty much the same food every day.) The worst part so far was Boston Restaurant week. THANKFULLY Harvest in Cambridge had a pretty vegan friendly option (might have had some butter but whatevs) so I didn't totally miss out.
I want my bacon.
veggieout at 1:37PM on 03/31/09
I gave lent up for lent one year and the husband is a protestant.
JerzeeTomato at 1:44PM on 03/31/09
The philosophy behind meatless Friday was born long before the modern concept of "vegetarianism." In Catholic history, the rule used to be no meat every Friday during the year and no meat at all during Lent. Fish was never included in the prohibition. The tradition is so old that I have never heard a real reason why- a lot of people claim that the church allowed people to eat fish to support the fishing industry in Italy, but that might just be an urban myth.
This year for Lent I gave up candy, and the half-empty bag of Tootsie Roll Pops sitting in my office drawer has been killing me this week! Looking forward to jelly beans on Easter!!
jammin83 at 3:17PM on 03/31/09
As for the "why-is-the-"meat"-of-fish-allowed" question:
I read somewhere that fish was considered the food of the poor, and meat for those who were more affluent, so it was an act of humility and solidarity with the poor to eat fish for that reason. You then could give your savings (from not buying meat and otherwise eating indulgently) as alms for those less fortunate.
moibec at 4:30PM on 03/31/09
@moibec--like @jammin83 says, the 'no meat' was for abstinence and disciplining the body, not because the medievals had our idea of vegetarianism. Meat was thought to be more 'inflaming' of the passions as well as the food of the poor. Also, Jesus was associated with fish and poverty in the scriptures.
I'm not religious but I have a academic degree in religion and lit--btw @chisai, in some religions you're allowed to break dietary constraints if it would be injurious to your health if you continued with your fast
HeartofGlass at 6:51PM on 03/31/09
I'm reading these responses and laughing with that sense of the familiar... I have two kids who go to Parochial school and they've changed the way they present Lent. Families are encouraged to "give" during the Lenten season versus give up something. Let's face it, most of us use Lent to diet/dry out/etc... The whole sacrifice thing is missing.... To give definitely aligns more with the spirit of Easter....
That said, I did cut back on wine with dinner for Lent... :o Some habits die hard!
llincoln at 6:51PM on 03/31/09
I use Lent as a way to give up unhealthy and wasteful (of my money) habits, so I take better care of "the temple" and my checking account. That means no candy or fast food. Which sucks whenever I see a Cadbury Cream Egg just MOCKING me...
TheCheapChick at 7:36PM on 03/31/09
I gave up alcohol and chocolate this year. Yikes.....it's been difficult. I suspect I could put on a few pounds by the time the end of April.
Arcticsushi at 8:52PM on 03/31/09
I tried to give up alcohol. But I'm in college. That lasted one week.
So, I gave up my usual Friday (soup salad or sushi) and Saturday (hangover cure Chinese) takeouts. Saving me about $20 a week :)
sweethunibabi at 9:17PM on 03/31/09
I didn't give up anything, but I am observing the no meat on Fridays thing. That's not so bad, since I only eat poultry anyway. But I was quite concerned that this Friday is my first Mets game... First game at the new stadium and no chicken fingers?? GASP! But, thanks to the lovely article posted on this site about the new options, I see there is a fish sandwich and some chowder. I guess the fingers will wait two weeks. Lent isn't so bad after you've done it for so many years...
meem21 at 12:49PM on 04/01/09
I don't observe Lent--just try to practice the everything-in-moderation principle year-round. My supervisor, however, attempted to give up caffeine. That may have lasted a week.
buffy at 9:17PM on 04/01/09