Zone1 Using Lent to Detach

[Woodznutz]

Grin. Why wait until your birth date to celebrate your birthday. Do it all year round! Actually, all of life is making improvements, but it is also good to have a season where one's primary focus is on this. It's kind of like spring cleaning or spring training. It's not that cleaning or athletic training is ONLY done at those times, the focus is just deeper.

The best "spring cleaning" for spiritual renewal and strength is fasting (complete abstinence from food, coffee, alcohol, and meds if possible. No tv, computer, phone, radio, or reading. No prayer or Bible study either. A little water, bed rest and quiet is all that is needed.

The physical energy and mental/spiritual clarity cannot be gained any other way.

 

[ding]

No tv, computer, phone, radio, or reading. No prayer or Bible study either. A little water, bed rest and quiet is all that is needed.

Sounds like sleeping.

 

[0311]

Mortimer has been great about bringing in posts about Lent. It is now well into the second week of Lent, which can be toughest week…how can I make it through four more weeks of this!

Lent is a time of penitence, of giving up something, of giving to, of fasting, and of deeper prayer. There have been times I’ve totally failed at Lent. And there have been times when Lent has been very good…. Easter has been fabulous as I have embraced everything I gave up and there is more to eat!

This year I was presented with something more challenging: To think of Lent as training…not so much about fasting/giving up but what is there in my life that I don’t just need to give up or do for six weeks, but something to detach from or do permanently? What is it I can give up or do to become more like Jesus and closer to him?

Anyone wish to share their thoughts of Lent of the Lenten journey?

My wife her promise to abstain from chocolate.

 

[TheProgressivePatriot]

Mortimer has been great about bringing in posts about Lent. It is now well into the second week of Lent, which can be toughest week…how can I make it through four more weeks of this!

Lent is a time of penitence, of giving up something, of giving to, of fasting, and of deeper prayer. There have been times I’ve totally failed at Lent. And there have been times when Lent has been very good…. Easter has been fabulous as I have embraced everything I gave up and there is more to eat!

This year I was presented with something more challenging: To think of Lent as training…not so much about fasting/giving up but what is there in my life that I don’t just need to give up or do for six weeks, but something to detach from or do permanently? What is it I can give up or do to become more like Jesus and closer to him?

Anyone wish to share their thoughts of Lent of the Lenten journey?

I gave up religion for lent about 50 years ago. Never looked back

 

[0311]

I gave up religion for lent about 50 years ago. Never looked back

I gave it up after Viet Nam. What I saw there convinced me there is no god.

 

[ding]

I gave up religion for lent about 50 years ago. Never looked back

Good for you. How has that improved your life and the lives of those around you?

 

[ding]

I gave it up after Viet Nam. What I saw there convinced me there is no god.

Because life shouldn’t be unfair? And we shouldn’t have to expect to make sacrifices?

 

[Meriweather]

I gave up religion for lent about 50 years ago. Never looked back

Specifically, what was the stumbling block that had you deciding that religion has no place in your life?

 

[Meriweather]

I gave it up after Viet Nam. What I saw there convinced me there is no god.

Bet it convinced you there were people who can act horribly towards others. (I know second hand as my daughter has seen some of this.) Good religions call us to overcome brutality (as well as the lesser harms) we do to our fellow humans.

 

[Woodznutz]

I gave it up after Viet Nam. What I saw there convinced me there is no god.

Jesus told you there would be "wars and rumors of wars", or didn't you get the message?