Whatcha Might Not Know…Lent

I am Catholic.  I went to church today at lunch to receive my ashes.  Luckily, no one stopped me in the hall at work this afternoon to inform me of “toner” on my forehead.  Yes, that really happened numerous years while living in Alabama – could be because only 3% of the state is Catholic.  Actually, you can see from the picture that I didn’t get the thick black cross this year…a sweet elderly woman barely swiped my forehead.

I am observing Lent.  Read HERE for more on the Catholic tradition.  I hemmed and hawed about what to do this Lenten season.  Last year instead of giving up something I wrote out handwritten cards/notes to 30 friends and slipped them in the mail during those weeks.  I’m happy to say I inspired a co-worker to do something similar this year. 

I made my Lenten decision during mass today.  I should give up chai tea & Facebook, but admit to not being sure I could do that and am not sure I’m even willing to try.  So here’s what I have decided for the next 40 days:

1. Limiting Facebook to the following: while eating breakfast, between 12-1 while at work, and not while the kids are awake. 
2. NO Starbucks or Mountain Mudd.
3. No eating after dinner.  This one is the hardest!  I am so used to snacking or having dessert after the girls go to bed.  I’ve actually started brushing my teeth immediately after their bedtime routine.  Helps with the temptation.
4. I am going to read The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs.  I just started it and it’s an interesting read so far.  You can read more about it HERE.  This was inspired by the co-worker mentioned above.  THANKS!

Starting this book and entering Lent has gotten me thinking a LOT about faith, spirituality, and religion.  Today I was Googling “buffet Catholic”, “Bible conspiracy”, “Old Testament vs. New Testament”, “Catholic beliefs”, etc. 

Let’s just use those as a teaser for what’s to come in future blog posts during Lent.  I’m not sure I can yet sing that I’m “losing my religion“, however, I also can’t say with 100% certainty that I’m not currently a Catholic out of convenience…hmmmmmmm.