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Lent practices this year

ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
in All Saints
What are people giving up or taking on or otherwise doing differently for Lent this year?

Comments

  • LydaLyda Shipmate
    I look above this thread to "Working Toward a Tidy House" with a certain amount of trepidation. I plan to set aside the hours between 7AM and noon to do all sorts of things that don't involve lazing around, playing on the PC, or watching TV. And :sigh: no sweets.
    Maybe I will add to "Tidy House".
  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Awake early (in my southern hemisphere time zone) on Ash Wednesday. I'm staying in a small retirement centre and complaining is how residents pass the time. I'm going to try and give up muttering, moaning and whingeing until after Easter, show some appreciation and positivity in a fraught time.
  • ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
    I’m going to try to do longer morning prayer from the BCP and actually read my Bible again—it’s been too long! Also watching Phil Vischer’s What’s in the Bible? series.

    Maybe do more healthy self-care too. I’ve been bad about taking care of my body and apartment for some time… I know it probably sounds weird to think of taking on self-care for Lent but when you’re bad about things like taking care of health, brushing your teeth, etc. 😞 that require discipline… with depression in the mix and so on… to me it seems like an appropriate thing to work on for Lent.
  • March HareMarch Hare Shipmate
    Sounds very sensible to me, @Chastmaster. And well done @MaryLouise - what an excellent resolution.

    We're going for something a bit different and cutting out palm oil from our diet, as a tiny protest against the trashing of rain-forests. It's amazing how many things it's in (toothpaste, would you believe?). Manufacturers love it because its workability properties suit machine processing. We'll see how we get on!
  • North East QuineNorth East Quine Purgatory Host
    Today is not only the start of Lent, but also our wedding anniversary. I'm thinking that I'm going to try to say / do something nice for my husband every day throughout Lent.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Doesn't just Putting Up With count?
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    I think that is an excellent suggestion @MaryLouise. I'm going to try to bear it in mind.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    I unplugged my outdoor Christmas lights today. After all, it is the beginning of Lent. The season of lights (Epiphany) has ended, though our daylight hours has increased by 2 hours since winter solstice. And we will gain another 3 hours between now and Easter.
  • ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
    More thoughts about Lent: I want to do the things that worked better for me in my life years ago that I’ve drifted away from very badly over the years. I want to pray more than I actually do. I want to actually do Bible reading which I’ve drifted away from completely. I want to take a shower every day or at least every other day. I want to brush my teeth every day. I want to read more and listen to music more. I’ve drifted away from so much stuff that’s good for me spiritually and physically. I may have to pay somebody to help with the apartment…
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    Gramps49 wrote: »
    I unplugged my outdoor Christmas lights today. After all, it is the beginning of Lent. The season of lights (Epiphany) has ended, though our daylight hours has increased by 2 hours since winter solstice. And we will gain another 3 hours between now and Easter.

    Our Christmas Tree is still up and burning brightly every night. Lent can go pound salt.
  • Graven ImageGraven Image Shipmate
    I am going to be reading from a new translation of the Bible for me. The "CEB Women's Bible." I have no idea what to expect, but I am looking forward to new insights into old familiar verses. I am also going to work very hard to stick to my medically required diet each day, with no cheat meals.
  • Lamb ChoppedLamb Chopped Shipmate
    I think I get to work on an area of very weak faith (bleah!) through reading, research, practice, etc. I'm rather pleased about this, it's been a sore spot for a long time.
  • RockyRogerRockyRoger Shipmate
    I'm following (again!) the on-line' lent retreat on 'Sacred Space'. Prayers for all here. Onward and upwards!
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Admin, 8th Day Host
    edited February 20
    I thought I might try reading the bible, of course I have heard and read it in pieces over the years. But I have never just read it straight through - I know it's 66 books but a fair few of them are quite short. I can also do bits as an audio book to and from work.

    I think I might have David Suchet reading the gospels on Audible - I'll have to check.
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Admin, 8th Day Host
    edited February 20
    I lie, turns out to be the New Testament read by Johnny Cash.

    (I am contemplating whether I want to download the complete King James bible as read by James Earl Jones - but I am going to continue scrolling through possible narrators.)
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    Someone played David Suchet reading the verses at last night’s church group and he sounds great. I already have his reading of the bible in one year on Audible and I really should get organised and start listening to it - I will start today and listen while cooking dinner.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    I listen to this quite often. It's a daily thing, but you can get any part of the Bible if you go into the back episodes. Each book of the Bible is read by a different reader.
  • TwangistTwangist Shipmate
    Given the number of birthdays we have in lent fasting is a bit tricky.
    I'm praying the litany daily or thereabouts in addition to my normal prayers
  • LuciaLucia Shipmate
    edited February 22
    I decided to give up desserts for Lent, other than 0% fat plain yoghurt and fruit.
    Dessert is a luxury and makes little contribution to my nutrition! But I do like having dessert, so it does feel like a little bit of a discipline for Lent!
    One year I drank nothing other than water for all of Lent! That was interesting...
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    The year I gave up caffeinated drinks was the longest Lent ever. I too am trying to avoid desserts and I'm also doing the CAFOD Great Lent Walk, which has actually been quite fun so far, so not sure if that really counts as being much of a penance.
  • North East QuineNorth East Quine Purgatory Host
    Every year my family beg me not to repeat the year I gave up coffee for Lent.
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    North East Quine wrote: »
    Every year my family beg me not to repeat the year I gave up coffee for Lent.

    Mrs Sioni gave up coffee (for arthritis) and that lasted about ten days. Not good.

    A walking Lent sounds encouraging but we live in South Wales, so we would probably get mildew.

  • AravisAravis Shipmate
    I’ve given up chocolate, which is more difficult than it used to be. I did consider alcohol but I have a major birthday this week and don’t want to be too abstemious!
  • Polly PlummerPolly Plummer Shipmate
    My birthday always falls in Lent so I've never managed to give up anything eatable. One year I gave up reading novels - don't think I could do that now. Trying to concentrate on doing some exercise: positive things are easier than giving something up.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    A couple of years ago I set myself the Lenten practice of daily morning readings from a couple of books and a time of intentional silence, and it lasted for many months after Lent was over. But it has not lasted to the present day.
  • Graven ImageGraven Image Shipmate
    Lucia wrote: »
    I decided to give up desserts for Lent, other than 0% fat plain yoghurt and fruit.
    Dessert is a luxury and makes little contribution to my nutrition! But I do like having dessert, so it does feel like a little bit of a discipline for Lent!
    One year I drank nothing other than water for all of Lent! That was interesting...

    A joke for you: I decided to give up ice cream for Lent, but my priest said Sundaes don't count, so I am having a hot fudge one.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    GROAN!!! :mrgreen:
  • SandemaniacSandemaniac Shipmate
    I've given up hope for Lent.

    OK, I'm being slightly facetious here, it's not that bad, but in my current situation, hope is not my friend.
  • ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
    Sandemaniac wrote: »
    I've given up hope for Lent.

    OK, I'm being slightly facetious here, it's not that bad, but in my current situation, hope is not my friend.

    Sending hugs and prayers.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    I generally pick a book—usually fiction, but occasionally nonfiction—to read during Lent. This year I’m reading Gail Godwin’s Evensong, which is a sequel to her Father Melancholy’s Daughter.


  • Cheery GardenerCheery Gardener Shipmate
    I signed up for Lent Madness as I do each year. I've already forgotten to vote twice in the bracket, I'm trying to get myself into gear this week!
  • Graven ImageGraven Image Shipmate
    Cheery Gardener wrote: »
    I signed up for Lent Madness as I do each year. I've already forgotten to vote twice in the bracket, I'm trying to get myself into gear this week!

    I also do this every year. So far, I have voted in all. On another note, I am really enjoying my decision for Lent to read "The Women's Bible." There are written reflections on women mentioned in the Bible in each chapter.
  • Cheery GardenerCheery Gardener Shipmate
    I love the sound of both your choices @Graven Image . I like having a focus during Lent, though I'm not really succeeding this year!
  • Graven ImageGraven Image Shipmate
    So many other issues are going on in life now, I can understand that focus can be hard. The good thing is God is with us wherever we are and whatever we do or do not do.
  • PriscillaPriscilla Shipmate
    I love Lent Madness too!
  • Cheery GardenerCheery Gardener Shipmate
    I've had a bit more success focussing the mind the last few days, so don't think I've forgotten to vote!
  • BullfrogBullfrog Shipmate
    I noticed that I'd been kind of dissociating a lot over the course of my life and decided to work on that.

    Having feelings has been quite an experience.
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