Lent 2006

...once again, I feel totally unspiritual.

But at least we did “Fat Tuesday” up right! Here I am, on my way to 52 years old, and I just this year learned why it’s called “Fat Tuesday.” Dani and Steve were talking about it on the radio yesterday morning (my wife is the morning news person at our local radio station), and I learned that the wives back in the “old country” wanted to use up all the fat in the house before the season of Lent - when they wouldn’t be baking any goodies. I never knew that!

So I made pancakes with bananas cooked in them, smothered in butter and syrup, strawberries, raspberries, and topped with a (large!) dollop of Cool Whip (well, the store brand, cheap version). A strip of bacon, a cup of fresh brewed coffee - it was DELICIOUS!

But now it’s Ash Wednesday, and I am at a loss. I want this to be a truly spiritual time - and I just don’t know how to do that.

I know it’s a time of spiritual discipline, the whole idea of fasting and all of that. I suppose I could fast one day a week. That’s an idea. A couple of years ago I gave up coffee for the 40 days of Lent...

...I won’t be doing that again!!!!

I don’t know how I became such a coffee addict, but it would appear I have.

We all decided last night at dinner that we would give up pop (or “soda” for you people out east). This will not be as easy at it sounds. There is a smidge of Coke in a liter bottle on the bottom shelf of our fridge even as I type - and I can’t tell you how BADLY I want it!

Mmmmm..... a frosty glass of Coke!

No sense in letting it go to waste, right? And then I just won’t BUY any more. I am a world champion at rationalization! Too bad it’s not an Olympic event... you can be sure I wouldn’t have pulled a Bodie. Or maybe I would have - and then rationalized it away!

... but then, I would have deserved the medal even more!

ANYWAY!

What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Lent.

I guess it is a time of reflection, a time to examine myself. A time to purify my heart.... a time to take stock of where I am, and get rid of all the junk that is keeping me from being as near, and as pleasing, to my loving Father as I want to be.

It’s a time of pruning. A time to spare things down.... and believe me, I have a lot of spiritual, emotional - and actual! - JUNK to prune.

But in the meantime, I do have some things I have come to in past journeys, so here is a link to those (much easier to find them that way!)...

(Okay. I had that last glass of Coke. I am doomed.)