Unwanted Commentary

Lent? What the hell is Lent? All I used to know about Lent was that it was this thing that Catholics did right after Mardi Gras. Growing up as a Baptist I never knew what Lent was about, nor Ash Wednesday…in fact I don't recall these things ever being mentioned in the many years that I attended a Baptist Church.

Not until I started attending a Methodist Church, with my then girlfriend, three years ago was I introduced to this ancient tradition of the Church. I was pretty skeptical about the whole thing, especially coming from a Baptist background where there is very little traditional ritual left, but I also was of the opinion that these things were unnecessary and quite possibly they detracted…that was my feelings on it. But we went to the Ash Wednesday service and it was a very interesting experience and started me down the mental road of realizing that these old traditions hold an important purpose, though more and more it seems they've been forgotten.

We just completed our third Ash Wednesday service last night and only now do I feel the purpose of the event. I have looked into myself and I am going to make the attempt at quitting a few things that I feel are leading me in the wrong direction, not only in a Christian sense, but many others as well. My goal is to make it to Easter, I may make it, I may not, I may revert afterwards, but I hope that having made the effort I will be enriched spiritually and mentally and overall be a better person, friend and husband. Of course the wonderful thing about this is that next year I have the same opportunity.

Even if your not a Christian and don't give a flip about spirituality or religion I would urge you to look at your life and ask the question. What can I give up that will make me a better person? It can be something as easy as "I'm not going to gossip" or "I'm not going to be judgmental" or something like that.

Just a thought
:angel