Ash Wednesday

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and not being a practicing Catholic, I've given only a little thought to what I should give up for Lent. There are several things I should, but I just don't know...

I remember when I was a kid (12/13 years old) going to Catholic school (wasn't Catholic at the time, converted later) and my friends would give up different things; sour foods, candy, etc. At the time, I thought that that was what it was about. Of course, I would always see them eating pickles or candy from the snack shack, they would go to confession and feel better, I guess. (shrug) Now that I'm older, I know that giving up something that trival is not what it's about. You are really supposed to sacrifice something you love (or at least like alot) to remind yourself of Christ's suffering.

As a "cafeteria Catholic" I like the symbolism of getting ashes, but I'm not real sure I can really give something up. Sure, I could say I'm going to give up sweets (have really cut back on those lately anyway) or sour foods (don't eat them...gave up Chinese candies after I made my self sick on them when I was pregnant with my oldest) or even smoking (rrrriiiiighttt! one glass of wine and that's all over with!). I could even give up wine...what and go straight back to beer?! OOO! I know! My cell phone! (eyeroll...that's NEVER going to happen!)

I guess what it comes down to is that I wish I had the strength of character to really give up something. The strength to put down a bad habit and leave it there. Maybe this Lentin Season I'll try to just be a better person. I'll try to listen more and talk less. I think the real problem is I carry around things that I can't put down (my anger at my sister comes to mind). I could say that I'm going to try to be more forgiving, but I just can't. (grr)

Now that I've gone on and on about this and have still come to no conclusion, I'll stop. Maybe, just maybe, I've made you think a bit tho???

Until next time.

Love,
Shoiley
34th Street
Above the Bakery
In the Bronx