Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. As a result, this is traditionally the day known as Fat Tuesday, during which people indulged in whatever they were going to give up for Lent. That devolved into the decadent hedonism associated with carnival or Mardi Gras, though it doesn’t need to. I will mark the day by NOT exercising and NOT watching what I eat, in preparation for the healthy regimen I am planning that will start the next day. I will also NOT listen through the Psalms chanted–which our pastor is going to be sending out via midi files–and I will NOT start reading Oswald Bayer’s Martin Luther’s Theology: A Contemporary Interpretation
No, we are under any obligation to fast or do without or start positive 40-day projects. But it’s a convenient time to do things that are good to do anyway. And the pangs of cravings and the twinges of seldom-used muscles will be useful reminders that I am dust and to dust I shall return.
Is anyone planning any Lenten disciplines that might give the rest of us some ideas?
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I had considered logging off my blog and social networks, but I can’t quite bring myself to do it. I am planning to scale back, though.
My wife and I commit ourselves to only reading Christian books during Lent. It’s not like giving up beer or something, I know. But the real point of Lenten disciplines is to prepare us spiritually, isn’t it?
I’m planning to read only Christian non-fiction. This is a big fast for me; my normal fare is pretty much exclusively fantasy and sci-fi.
And then the “normal:” no sweets, no desserts, no snacks between meals.
However, as my priest points out every year, we need to add as well as subtract during Lent, so I’m going to be reading through a devotional book, and setting aside some money each week for alms-giving.
Pancake day for me!
Since it is not convenient for my husband if I fast during the evening meal, I am going to try to fast during breakfast/lunch and eat with the family at night. It’s too hard to fast if you’re the one cooking the evening meal for others. I got the idea from a website I ran across about three years ago, which recommended it as a weight-loss plan, although *I absolutely realize that Lenten fasting is not about weight loss!* This merely gives some information and a plan for fasting.
If you’re curious about it, I found the info available free at http://www.fast-5.com.
During my lunch break, which I usually take at home, instead of eating I will use the time for Bible study and reading devotional materials, including The Lutheran Study Bible, Rev. Matt Harrison’s new “Joy” book, and the audio New Testament from “Faith Comes by Hearing.”
One year I gave up coffee. Sounds lame, but if you knew me, you’d realise that it is a major step.
Last year it was blogging and facebook.
Not sure yet for this year….
I gave up coffee a few years ago; it does not make for a happy Joe
You know those people you haven’t seen in church in over a year. You know those other people that have been on the roster since you joined the church but you haven’t ever seen them? You know those people you don’t want to visit with for whatever reason? I’m making it a point to find out where they are. I don’t know that I will give anything up. But I am going to go to the gymn six days a week if it kills me.
I’ve used ‘Treasury of Daily Prayer’ in the past sporadically with my devotions. Tomorrow I intend to start a year of reading through it daily in both morning and evening devotions.
In conjunction with our Wednesday evening services, I plan to fast on Wednesdays. Hard to do when we have a potluck before every service! I did it a couple of years ago, and what I do is make myself a plate at the potluck, put it in the refrigerator, and then reheat it after the service for eating, ending my daily fast. Since the meal is long since cleaned up, I don’t have to worry about the temptation to gorge myself by going for seconds. =)
I live in brasil. Carnival /mardi gras is now in full swing. it is unavoidable.
I don´t like to see people drunk, betraying their spouses because carnival is their excuse. The music is mostly just loud noise. People ecstatic because….. well… for the same reasons americans get all giddy on new years eve…. no reason really.
I will be Soooooooooo happy tomorrow to be in solemn company tom0rrow on ash wednesday with a faithful pastor who is about the Lord´s business. you have no idea. Brasilian Lutherans don´t have the fine tradition of mid-week services during lent and advent. Our new pastor is working towards having those. Bless him.
There is no sin in enjoying carnival and being happy over it. Maybe next year I will feel friendlier towards the practices there, or…. take a trip to somewhere where there is no carnival or mardi gras? hmmmm
Not sure if I’ll be giving anything up, but I plan on using Lent this year as an opportunity to memorize the Small Catechism – something I never did, coming to Lutheranism late in life.
It will also take away a huge excuse my son tries to use when he complains about having to study catechism on top of his school homework.
I’m contemplating giving up junk food for Lent. But that forces me to actually define what “junk food” is. Is pizza junk food? Or just a less-than-nutritionally-balanced meal? Are goldfish crackers, or are they a legit snack? Any thoughts?
A.D.P. – Your question is legitimate. In my mind junk food is overly processed food. I buy into the theory that the healthiest way to eat is to eat the food as close to its natural state as possible (without going crazy and eating a live cow or something).
Pizza is not junk food – how many other foods can deliver, grains, protein, fruits and veggies and dairy at the same time? (But I would ask are you eating a whole grain crust and real cheese. How about the sausage? How many ingredients are on that label?)
Gold fish are whole grain and flavored with real cheese. I would say not junk food.
Bror had me until that exercise thing. :^)
J/K; I’m hoping to do about the same, except I prefer to take my exercise outside of the gym. And I hope to see if I can make good Faschingskrapfen/paczki as well. Which will give me another reason I need to exercise. :^)
Thanks for your thoughts, Joe. The thing is, though, the working definition of “junk food” I’m trying to come up with has slightly less to do with how healthful something is and slightly more to do with an exercise in self-control. . . so I’m reluctantly concluding that goldfish do indeed count. Not pizza, though, because I eat pizza seldom enough that I don’t think that giving it up would be too much of a fast.
I am observing a fast, but my real focus in on contemplative prayer about my vocation as a mother and finding satisfaction in it. First, I must anchor my joy in Christ and then all that is given to me in life is not only barable, but filled with peace and joy.
I’m going to give up the idea of giving up stuff for Lent.
Reading and rereading Romans. Over and over again.
I am excited to report that my kids have decided to give something up for lent. We don’t force them to. We explained why someone would, the purpose of it and then left it to them. My Son age 7 has given up cereal (this will be tough he eats at least one bowl a day). My eldest daughter age 9 has given up popcorn – a favorite family treat. My four year old daughter has given up toast – her current favorite food. (Child number 4 is only 6 months old)
My wife and I have given up TV and I am fasting on Wednesdays.
@fws – where in Brazil are you? Our congregation is fairly well connected with the IELB. Sending a mission group to partner with folks in Caldas Novas.
steve @ 20.
I am pretty excited that LCMS congregations are connected to brasil. we need you!
We especially need things like Dr Veith´s books translated into portuguese and sold down here.
drop me an email. fwsonnek@gmail.com
I live in Rio De Janeiro.
steve @ 17
what he says. How is that looking for you steve?
Very good steve – I made that my new years resolution (when I was 12).
If you are not feeling hungry, you are not fasting.
I’m all for “giving up” things, but fasting really is the practice of refraining from eating food.
My wife and I have decided to observe a fast together, missing the midday-meal (which we spend in prayer and mediation instead), generally trying to reduce the amount we eat for the other meals… and giving up caffeine, which is a particular sacrifice on my part! This year, we have made a conscious decision to break-fast each Sunday, however, in anticipation of the Resurrection celebration at Easter.