Lent

[The Annoyed Man]

I put this here because I really didn't know where else to put it. It's not really about religion, although it concerns something I'm observing as part of my preparations for Easter. I was just wondering if anyone else is doing this, or has done it in the past, and what your experience has been.

I gave up all social media (except this website) and "LOUD" and partisan news websites and aggregators for Lent. I've never done anything like this before. I'm a Protestant not a Catholic, so many of these kinds of semi-formal religious observances are not necessarily part of MY traditions. I have fasted from food for a day or two......even for a week once......but it wasn't for Lent, and it was always intended to be temporary. For those of you who are connected to me on Facebook, by now you're in stitches and enjoying my discomfort. I posted a blog post about it on my website, but was interested in hearing (A) if anyone is doing something like this for Lent, (B) how's it going for you so far, and (C) do you think it will be temporary or permanent? I'm doing this because I think I have an addiction.

So far, I am doing really great at it. I'm still using Facebook Messenger simply because I have 2 or 3 friends that that's how I text with them, but I haven't spent any time on the Facebook website at all. I have three tabs "pinned" in my safari browser on my laptop - Facebook, this forum, and Drudge Report. The other day, I went to click on the tab for this forum, and accidentally clicked on Drudge. I was instantly transfixed for about a second and a half - which goes to show how addicted I was to it, and then I immediately clicked out of it and got to this website. I told my wife about it afterwards, and told her that I felt like I had accidentally looked at porn or something. I felt kind of dirty, and I actually felt better confessing it to my wife......even though I realize that I hadn't actually done anything morally wrong. It was just the feeling that I had seen something I wasn't supposed to, and it bothered me. BTW, she's on the same fast as I am, fasting from social media and loud news sites.

I still use my computer, I'm (obviously) still online, I still maintain email correspondences with friends - often about political topics - but I'm just not out there anymore posting challenging articles on Facebook and getting in heated political debates with anyone. Once in a while someone sends me a link to an article of a political nature, and I'll look at it, and maybe comment in general about the topic to the person who sent me the link, but I'm not nearly as engaged as I was, and I feel SO much calmer. I haven't watched news on TV at all. I've been going to the axios.com website and looking at their news summaries which are very politically neutral and short, so I'm staying informed, but I'm just not getting dragged into the mud; and it feels great.

I haven't completely decided yet, but I may just make this a permanent change and keep it up after Easter. Anybody else giving up something else for Lent, or doing what I'm doing, for religious reasons or otherwise?

BTW, if you are on a journey like this, I thought we could use this thread to encourage one another.

[Jusme]

A couple of years ago, I gave up beer for Lent, not that I was, nor am I now a heavy drinker, but I then put aside the money I would have spent, and donated it to our church's mission service. This year, I am taking all of my change that I get get back from any cash purchases, and donating that. Our Church,, the Sunday after Easter, have a "Great day of Service" where we forego worship service, and go out into the community and perform various service acts. Mowing lawns for the elderly, building wheelchair ramps, picking up trash along the roadways, etc. It is not a tradition I grew up with, but it does help to put my focus more towards God, and the sacrifice of Jesus.

[Vol Texan]

Our daughter is prepping for her first communion this year. As any Catholic can attest, none of the sacraments are of the "Hey, let's just go do that today" kind of variety. There is plenty of coursework, homework, and one-on-one mentoring required, and she's knee-deep in it right now.

So, to help her with her understanding of the importance of Lent, and the sacrifice we each should make to remember the sacrifice made for us...Mrs. VolTexan and I each gave up something we enjoy. Instead of really seeking out something that would be a big challenge, we picked things that our 8-year old would consider 'really, really important'. For my wife, no chocolate (it's not that hard for her, because it's only an occasional treat, but my daughter saw that as a HUGE event. For me, it's peanut butter, which my daughter thinks is my favorite food on earth (she's right). (Interesting side note - it's also the root of the most serious disagreement that TAM and I have ever had on this forum.)

[The Annoyed Man]

Our daughter is prepping for her first communion this year. As any Catholic can attest, none of the sacraments are of the "Hey, let's just go do that today" kind of variety. There is plenty of coursework, homework, and one-on-one mentoring required, and she's knee-deep in it right now.

So, to help her with her understanding of the importance of Lent, and the sacrifice we each should make to remember the sacrifice made for us...Mrs. VolTexan and I each gave up something we enjoy. Instead of really seeking out something that would be a big challenge, we picked things that our 8-year old would consider 'really, really important'. For my wife, no chocolate (it's not that hard for her, because it's only an occasional treat, but my daughter saw that as a HUGE event. For me, it's peanut butter, which my daughter thinks is my favorite food on earth (she's right). (Interesting side note - it's also the root of the most serious disagreement that TAM and I have ever had on this forum.)

Oh Lordy......if I gave up peanut butter for Lent, I'd ..... I'd..... I don't know what I'd do!

That was quite the tussle.

Even the unflappable RoyGBiv chimed in on the next page with:

First of all, you're wrong. Planter's extra crunchy is the best, and I'll fight you for it if I have to."

As usual what you say is said well!
The rest of it too.

I didn't want to pick a fight, but Jif Creamy is the bees knees.
Planters with solids is good for baiting mouse traps.

GOOD FOR BAITING MOUSETRAPS!!!!

[Wag2323]

I am Catholic and have given things up over the years just for Lent and other things I have stuck with after the fact. In general me and the wife primarily just drink water at every meal and between meals instead of sodas. I can't even recall how many times I have given up soda over the years but eventually it has generally stuck with me. I still drink it as part of a fast food meal and we buy it at times but we generally stick with water.

I have at a time gone without fast food for so long that the thought of it was just gross but currently I am back to being kind of ok with it.

I am in my 30s and spent most of my life with the internet but I do find it is quite a relief to be without social media or news apps for days or a week at a time.

[Crossfire]

Catholics are not the only ones who give up something for Lent. Lutherans do too.
For me, it is Talk Radio. My apologies to WBAP, but for now, I am only listening to traffic and weather.

[The Annoyed Man]

Catholics are not the only ones who give up something for Lent. Lutherans do too.
For me, it is Talk Radio. My apologies to WBAP, but for now, I am only listening to traffic and weather.

Is it calming you to avoid talk radio? I find that I am far less wound up by avoiding this kind of thing now.

[twomillenium]

I do not participate in "Lent", but from time to time I will give up something and then use that time to pray or do something that will bring me closer to God. Many times, what I gave up will remain with me for a long time and some I never pick up again. I would probably not give up social media, as that is the way I communicate with many friends (some I have never physically met). But, giving up computer or social media time for extra prayer time is intriguing, after all I believe that is what Lent or any type of fasting is all about. It is an interesting idea (fasting from social media) as sometimes I feel like I MUST be on the computer for non-work activities. That makes it an addiction. Thanks for the Idea!

As far as talk radio is concerned, I find it like a Soap Opera, I can hear what I need in just one hour, a couple of times a week and stay caught up!

[AF-Odin]

TAM

Keep up the discipline and if you lapse, restart. This time is not only about giving up, but taking on something. Use the time that you are not using social media to indulge in study or other things that will calm you. For me, standing at the reloading bench and cranking out bullets is very calming and a great time to pay attention to that process, but also to meditate..

[equin]

Gave up sweets and dessert and alcohol. Not a big drinker, so the no alcohol is easy. But the no sweets part is killing me! I just try to think of the suffering Jesus went through for us and of past American POWs in WWII and Vietnam who were lucky if they got a small piece of meat during the years they were basically starved as captives.

My wife gave up meat, and she's a huge meat eater. She still eats fish and eggs for protein, though. At first it was hard for her, but she now says she actually feels better and is thinking of drastically reducing her meat intake after Lent.

[Crossfire]

Catholics are not the only ones who give up something for Lent. Lutherans do too.
For me, it is Talk Radio. My apologies to WBAP, but for now, I am only listening to traffic and weather.

Is it calming you to avoid talk radio? I find that I am far less wound up by avoiding this kind of thing now.

Yes, although I thought it was a guilty pleasure, it is actually a vice. I may have given it up for good.

[Dan20703]

I do the opposite of giving things up. I make an effort to do positive things everyday. I exercise more, try to help neighbors, pick up trash I see along the sidewalk where I walk, let discourteous drivers cut in that normally wouldn't, etc. etc. etc.