I am so grateful to Angela for leading up to the blog. Usually I try to put up a post a week in advance as advertisement, however, due to unforeseen circumstances last week, I didn't have it in me. To be honest, I've been rather depressed for the last few weeks, dealing with some hardcore insomnia issues and a whole epic list of problems I wouldn't wish on anybody else. The idea of logging in today to do a lead up blog felt overwhelmingly difficult. You know, there's the whole remembering what e-mail I used and the password to it. It's an entire thing.
Then the most amazing thing happened: after I quite easily remembered the e-mail and password (absurdly easy, considering the amount of time I spent trying to convince myself that logging in was going to be a whole thing), I saw that we have over 7,000 page views and several followers. 7,000 page views. SEVEN THOUSAND!
You guys are honestly the most awesome ever. I never imagined we would have anywhere near that much. We really only post for 40 days out of the year...well Angela posts for 40 days. I don't believe in the Sunday vacation from Lent deal, so you get posts from me, which technically brings it to more than 40 days, but I have it on good authority from a priest that this is perfectly valid...so there Angela! Haha! Of course I feel obligated to mention that he said not doing the Lent thing on Sunday was perfectly valid too, but my point still stands.
All this being said, and now that I'm fully logged into my account again, I intend to continue our tradition of a daily blog throughout Lent. Additionally, I will be praying a rosary a day. If you have any intentions you would like me to pray for, please feel free to mention so in the comment sections of my posts (preferably the daily posts I'm currently posting) or to message me with any requests and I will happily pray on your behalf. My intention is to pray for others anyway, might as well be you! Since we are in the Jubilee year of Mercy, I'm hoping this will help me to be more merciful towards others.
SEVEN THOUSAND! That still blows my mind.
Showing posts with label lent blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lent blog. Show all posts
February 9, 2016
March 21, 2015
Long Days, Long Nights
I was about to go to bed when I realized, "Hey, did you post today? I don't think so. Did you post yesterday? NO!?"
I fail at Lent and Lent blogging. I almost doubly failed. I only have eight minutes to post something and I had every intention of making sure it was going to be something of quality today. Instead, I spent today at a retreat at church, then at my sister's place, then with friends. And all these things were awesome, but they have also made it so that thinking is pretty much impossible right now.
I did get to play a video game from my childhood that I had never played before, however. I turns out that while I spent countless hours becoming awesome at Game Cube's Smash Brothers Melee, I am AWFUL at the original Smash Brothers. By the time I finally figured out how to jump so that I wasn't constantly dying on the edge of the map, I was out of our series of matches. So much for "I'll figure it out quickly and dominate". Despite the lag, I was actually quite surprised by how quick the characters responded to the controls. We're so used to instantaneous responses now, I'm wondering how I ever used to play some of these games. I'm going to have to dig my Nintendo 64 out of wherever it is and recapture some of my last youth.
I fail at Lent and Lent blogging. I almost doubly failed. I only have eight minutes to post something and I had every intention of making sure it was going to be something of quality today. Instead, I spent today at a retreat at church, then at my sister's place, then with friends. And all these things were awesome, but they have also made it so that thinking is pretty much impossible right now.
I did get to play a video game from my childhood that I had never played before, however. I turns out that while I spent countless hours becoming awesome at Game Cube's Smash Brothers Melee, I am AWFUL at the original Smash Brothers. By the time I finally figured out how to jump so that I wasn't constantly dying on the edge of the map, I was out of our series of matches. So much for "I'll figure it out quickly and dominate". Despite the lag, I was actually quite surprised by how quick the characters responded to the controls. We're so used to instantaneous responses now, I'm wondering how I ever used to play some of these games. I'm going to have to dig my Nintendo 64 out of wherever it is and recapture some of my last youth.
March 14, 2015
More Randomness
I keep forgetting that it's only mid-March. The end of Lent seems like it's just around the corner, and it feels like it only just began. I don't think I'm doing very well this Lent with any of my stuff other than the blog. Although I have been praying more, I'm not sure I'm actually devoting the time to it that I should be. Also, I keep forgetting to use the nifty website to keep me going with the calorie counting. I never developed the habit, I guess.
At least I've remembered to update the blog with Angela. I think I only missed one day so far and that was by accident. I've been trying to blog in the mornings if I can so that I don't forget to do it later in the day, but I've also been pretty good about remembering anyway. It's been on my mind the most too. I keep trying to come up with things to blog about, but something always pops into my head eventually. There's a post I've been working on in the interim, but I'm not sure when it will finally make its appearance. It's one of deep thought and contemplation, so I probably won't get around to posting it for several years. That seems to be how those go. Although every Sunday, all the short stories I've been posting have been ideas that I've been meaning to get around to eventually, so it could be sooner rather than later pending on when my brain decides to producing coherent ideas. And I didn't forget to post today, I just needed some time to think about what I wanted to post. I've run out of time. Drat.
At least I've remembered to update the blog with Angela. I think I only missed one day so far and that was by accident. I've been trying to blog in the mornings if I can so that I don't forget to do it later in the day, but I've also been pretty good about remembering anyway. It's been on my mind the most too. I keep trying to come up with things to blog about, but something always pops into my head eventually. There's a post I've been working on in the interim, but I'm not sure when it will finally make its appearance. It's one of deep thought and contemplation, so I probably won't get around to posting it for several years. That seems to be how those go. Although every Sunday, all the short stories I've been posting have been ideas that I've been meaning to get around to eventually, so it could be sooner rather than later pending on when my brain decides to producing coherent ideas. And I didn't forget to post today, I just needed some time to think about what I wanted to post. I've run out of time. Drat.
March 13, 2015
Serious Misconceptions
I haven't done very much posting on things inspirational this year. Going back and looking at most of my blog posts, I'm actually a little surprised. Maybe I just have memories of doing something terribly profound, but ultimately I just resolve into gibberish? For some reason whenever I get ready to start up this Lent blog again, I always have memories of really intense posts talking about my religious journey. Most of my posts are not anything like that. They're just random and weird.
This actually did get me thinking about something else, though. How much of my life do I actually remember properly? I can go back and check these blogs and say to myself, "No...no, Kris this is not how you remember it at all. These are not deep thoughts." Those memories of writing a great many deep blogs are still there, though, still intact. Apparently even when faced with the evidence that something I remember isn't actually how I remember it, my brain clings to this lie it has created.
What else am I misremembering?
I read somewhere that your brain tends to focus on good, positive, uplifting things which is why you might remember the time with your horrible ex as one of the best in your life. If our brains are wired to remembering good things, that's kind of awesome and awful at the same time. It's like having a friend that doesn't want to see you hurt, so they just bring up all the good things you've done, or all the positive aspects of a really horrible outfit, so that you smile. "Nah, we totally nailed the last few Lent Blogs," says Kris' brain, "We were deep and witty and entertaining. Now listen to this song you haven't heard in forever. That's nice, isn't it? It's beautiful day, smile and forget that we actually suck at blogging."
This is all a farce, however. Our brains are befriending us because they know all our secrets and one day they'll use this against us. Like after a night of drinking they might come back against us with pain and all the bitter memories of everything we've ever done. "Oh hey, having a hard time remembering stuff from last night? Remember that time in 2nd grade when Jenny told you you were stupid in front of everyone? Remember how much that sucked? Or that time you were caught in a lie and got grounded for a week? Hey, what about that accident you caused and everyone hated you for it? Remember that? I do. You know what else I remember? I remember you TRYING TO KILL ME with that alcohol last night, but no hard feelings. Oh look...awkward teenage rebellion mishaps, let's just play this over and over again all day."
In conclusion, our brains are kind of assholes.
This actually did get me thinking about something else, though. How much of my life do I actually remember properly? I can go back and check these blogs and say to myself, "No...no, Kris this is not how you remember it at all. These are not deep thoughts." Those memories of writing a great many deep blogs are still there, though, still intact. Apparently even when faced with the evidence that something I remember isn't actually how I remember it, my brain clings to this lie it has created.
What else am I misremembering?
I read somewhere that your brain tends to focus on good, positive, uplifting things which is why you might remember the time with your horrible ex as one of the best in your life. If our brains are wired to remembering good things, that's kind of awesome and awful at the same time. It's like having a friend that doesn't want to see you hurt, so they just bring up all the good things you've done, or all the positive aspects of a really horrible outfit, so that you smile. "Nah, we totally nailed the last few Lent Blogs," says Kris' brain, "We were deep and witty and entertaining. Now listen to this song you haven't heard in forever. That's nice, isn't it? It's beautiful day, smile and forget that we actually suck at blogging."
This is all a farce, however. Our brains are befriending us because they know all our secrets and one day they'll use this against us. Like after a night of drinking they might come back against us with pain and all the bitter memories of everything we've ever done. "Oh hey, having a hard time remembering stuff from last night? Remember that time in 2nd grade when Jenny told you you were stupid in front of everyone? Remember how much that sucked? Or that time you were caught in a lie and got grounded for a week? Hey, what about that accident you caused and everyone hated you for it? Remember that? I do. You know what else I remember? I remember you TRYING TO KILL ME with that alcohol last night, but no hard feelings. Oh look...awkward teenage rebellion mishaps, let's just play this over and over again all day."
In conclusion, our brains are kind of assholes.
February 20, 2015
Day Two, Already Making Adjustments...
Yesterday, I was introduced to a calorie counter which made me realize something: I'm very lucky I monitored myself during Lent last year when I was fasting. My caloric intake was less than half of what's recommended, and while I was trying to choose items that would be healthy, give me energy, and help me make it through the day, I realized I don't really have a baseline for my eating habits, and I should probably start there. As such, I have decided to change my Lent fast into something a bit more productive (and also wanted to own up to it). I'm going to monitor what I eat, and try to stay towards the minimum requirements for a days' caloric intake, as well as supplement with exercise.
I'm actually quite excited about this. It's been really interesting putting everything I ate into this calculator all day. I've learned that practically every undoctored doesn't add a thing. I also learned some surprising facts about some of the things I've been eating, like peanut butter and a glass of milk. Having something at my fingertips which calculates what I'm going to eat has also helped me to rethink what I might have eaten/drunk too, or when I'll eat. It's a lot easier to want to forgo snacking on something when it's on hand and you can see exactly how much it skews those numbers.
I'm also looking forward to using this website to gauge what my homemade recipes are like. I've never really taken the time to see how healthy the meals I prepare are, even though when I cook I try to make things that are healthier than what I would get if I ate out.
Yeah...maybe I'm a little too excited about this, but it's nice to have such a tool at my disposal. Sometimes the 'future' is really handy.
I'm actually quite excited about this. It's been really interesting putting everything I ate into this calculator all day. I've learned that practically every undoctored doesn't add a thing. I also learned some surprising facts about some of the things I've been eating, like peanut butter and a glass of milk. Having something at my fingertips which calculates what I'm going to eat has also helped me to rethink what I might have eaten/drunk too, or when I'll eat. It's a lot easier to want to forgo snacking on something when it's on hand and you can see exactly how much it skews those numbers.
I'm also looking forward to using this website to gauge what my homemade recipes are like. I've never really taken the time to see how healthy the meals I prepare are, even though when I cook I try to make things that are healthier than what I would get if I ate out.
Yeah...maybe I'm a little too excited about this, but it's nice to have such a tool at my disposal. Sometimes the 'future' is really handy.
February 19, 2015
Sympathy for the Brain
I don't know why, but I was feeling a lot of anxiety about today.
Maybe it was all the left over nervousness from everything I've been
doing over the last two days, and all the obligations I have for this
week? I had a round of nightmares last night that were pretty wild.
The only thing I really remember from them was that I was fighting
something (demons or undead or something) and I kept seeing the cross I
wear and my priest randomly cropping up. Fighting undead with a priest
beside you would be pretty badass.
I don't feel like I accomplished much today. I've started my Lent things, though. For some reason, having done the fasting thing last year, I have this memory of it being "not so bad". My brain was all "Nah man, we did this last year. We got this!" My body, however is like "You monster! You monster! You don't even know what it's like!" This is obviously to my brain, because my brain likes to think it's cooler than the rest of my body and hold itself aloof from everything else, just because it's "more intelligent". At the very least, I have a jump start from last year. I'm feeling the effects of day five on day two because I had been sick since Sunday and unable to each much until yesterday...when I couldn't eat much. Woo. Hopefully midweek next week will be better, if I keep on track.
I feel like I should have more things to talk about, but this head cold is preventing me from being witty. I did have a nice rant in mind for today, but I either lack the wherewithal to give it justice, or I'm feeling a bit lethargic and not in the mood for ranting, because when I sat down to write it out my interest waned. Hopefully I'll have more to write about tomorrow. I didn't get a nifty letter in my bulletin giving me ideas to talk about, so I'll have to drum up something else!
Also, I'm leaving this here because I think I had a huge oversight yesterday. I should have titled it "Krangela's Ashes" and written something else. Next year...next year.
I don't feel like I accomplished much today. I've started my Lent things, though. For some reason, having done the fasting thing last year, I have this memory of it being "not so bad". My brain was all "Nah man, we did this last year. We got this!" My body, however is like "You monster! You monster! You don't even know what it's like!" This is obviously to my brain, because my brain likes to think it's cooler than the rest of my body and hold itself aloof from everything else, just because it's "more intelligent". At the very least, I have a jump start from last year. I'm feeling the effects of day five on day two because I had been sick since Sunday and unable to each much until yesterday...when I couldn't eat much. Woo. Hopefully midweek next week will be better, if I keep on track.
I feel like I should have more things to talk about, but this head cold is preventing me from being witty. I did have a nice rant in mind for today, but I either lack the wherewithal to give it justice, or I'm feeling a bit lethargic and not in the mood for ranting, because when I sat down to write it out my interest waned. Hopefully I'll have more to write about tomorrow. I didn't get a nifty letter in my bulletin giving me ideas to talk about, so I'll have to drum up something else!
Also, I'm leaving this here because I think I had a huge oversight yesterday. I should have titled it "Krangela's Ashes" and written something else. Next year...next year.
February 18, 2015
Ashes to Ashes and Stones to Soup
I can't help but love Ash Wednesday services. They always remind me of when I first realized the fullness that Catholicism has to offer. At the same time as people are waiting to receive ashes and the Eucharist, there are always people in the back of church waiting for reconciliation through confession. It is, in every respects, a reminder that we receive salvation through Christ in the forgiveness of sins and the grace of the sacraments. The ashes spread across the forehead always remind me of my mortality in this world and my eternal rest in God's kingdom; spread across the same place as where I received the confirmation chrism oil when I entered the Church two years ago. As much as I love the Easter Rites and the Christmas Celebration, I think it's Ash Wednesday that I love the most.
This year, I am gifted with the ability to spend the entire day at my parish. Having taken over coordination for RCIA, I'm in charge of distributing our traditional Stone Soup meal after masses. This has given me time in between to spend in quiet reflection of mass, in reading scripture, and in prayer. I have had plenty of time for prayer today too! In fact, even though I had decided upon spending time in prayer as part of Lent, I have found so many opportunities to do it which I have completely overlooked, that it's almost embarrassing to admit I tend to regulate myself to structured times during the day.
After all the things I came to discover last year during Lent, I'm looking forward to this year with renewed vigor. I think we prefer not to be uncomfortable, but we forget that discomfort and trials give way to more growth than comfort and accommodation. I think we also prefer not to participate in acts of self-denial as a natural tendency in our culture to equate restraint with a lack of freedom. I wish I could remember these things more often when it isn't just this time of the year.
February 17, 2015
Chewing the Fat on Tuesday
I know tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, but I thought I'd jump the gun a bit and start getting back in the habit of posting daily. I haven't been doing much in the way of writing lately, I'm afraid. Months have gone by and I've no more touched a pencil than a keyboard on anything substantial or interesting, most unfortunately. At the very least, I wish I would have kept a journal better. I feel like I've grown substantially in my faith over the last year; but then, upon reflection, I think I say that a lot.
I've never been the type of person who believes we are the sum of our parts and nothing more, and I quite enjoy reflecting upon all the ways that I've changed and developed over time. This version of me is quite different than last year's and will most likely be different than next year's, and that tempering process is quite interesting to consider. At least for me. I think a lot of the things I've transitioned through have been for the better and I hope to strive for better things in the future.
It is with this in mind that I've decided on three things for Lent this year:
1) Lent Blog
2) Fasting (which is coupled with eating healthier things and more exercise)
3) More Prayer
As if in anticipation of tomorrow, I happened to come down with a head cold which has completely neutralized by appetite. I've been subsisting on broth and bread for the last couple of days and it's all I really have a desire for today too. Which is good, considering tomorrow is a day of fasting and abstinence. I just can't believe how fast Ash Wednesday has approached. Only a few more weeks until Easter!
I've never been the type of person who believes we are the sum of our parts and nothing more, and I quite enjoy reflecting upon all the ways that I've changed and developed over time. This version of me is quite different than last year's and will most likely be different than next year's, and that tempering process is quite interesting to consider. At least for me. I think a lot of the things I've transitioned through have been for the better and I hope to strive for better things in the future.
It is with this in mind that I've decided on three things for Lent this year:
1) Lent Blog
2) Fasting (which is coupled with eating healthier things and more exercise)
3) More Prayer
As if in anticipation of tomorrow, I happened to come down with a head cold which has completely neutralized by appetite. I've been subsisting on broth and bread for the last couple of days and it's all I really have a desire for today too. Which is good, considering tomorrow is a day of fasting and abstinence. I just can't believe how fast Ash Wednesday has approached. Only a few more weeks until Easter!
February 2, 2015
Get Ready for an Epic Adventure...
In 2012, two women determined to make and keep Lenten resolutions...
In 2014, they made it clear their resolve for Lent was irresolute...
This year....FEBRUARY 18TH....Lent gets....resolutional...
2015 LENT BLOG.....
Krangela
In 2013, they reunited once again in mutual Lenten resoluteness....
It's why we do this blog
In 2014, they made it clear their resolve for Lent was irresolute...
He sees what I did there
This year....FEBRUARY 18TH....Lent gets....resolutional...
Hey...making up words works for Colbert
2015 LENT BLOG.....
It's coming
March 10, 2014
Slowing Down
After the past month and a half of working double shifts, I finally decided to try take it easy this week. I have more days off than usual at my main job, which makes it a little stressful for me to consider not taking sub jobs (especially when I enjoy subbing more than my main job). However, after yesterday's homily at my church, I wanted to try to redirect some of my time towards other things.
Part of the reason for this is recognizing that with my pseudo-fasting for Lent, I don't have the energy I'm used to having. The other part was realizing that I've been forgetting a LOT of things lately because I'm just so busy. I also don't know that what I'm busy with are necessarily things that ought to occupy all of my time. I wonder what I will discover by the end of this week.
Goals for this week: read more scripture, pray more, try to be present in the moment, offer more thanks than petition during prayer.
Part of the reason for this is recognizing that with my pseudo-fasting for Lent, I don't have the energy I'm used to having. The other part was realizing that I've been forgetting a LOT of things lately because I'm just so busy. I also don't know that what I'm busy with are necessarily things that ought to occupy all of my time. I wonder what I will discover by the end of this week.
Goals for this week: read more scripture, pray more, try to be present in the moment, offer more thanks than petition during prayer.
March 14, 2013
Elation!
Last night was pretty much my last class. It wasn't all that interesting, except my sister couldn't find a babysitter so my nephew was along for the night. The most exciting part of the evening, however, was coming home to song after song of awesome rock music.
Now, the problem when I listen to the radio and it's playing awesome rock music, is that I have a tendency to drive a little over the limit...and like a maniac...all over the road...as I rock out. I don't club and I don't really dance, but for some reason the combination of a vehicle capable of high speeds and awesome rock makes me insane. But in this case, I think it was worth it!
After tonight, I have exactly six classes and one exit interview left on campus and student teaching. In two weeks, I will be Catholic.
This journey is almost coming to an end....and so is Lent and our Lent Blog. It's like a great big culmination!
Now, the problem when I listen to the radio and it's playing awesome rock music, is that I have a tendency to drive a little over the limit...and like a maniac...all over the road...as I rock out. I don't club and I don't really dance, but for some reason the combination of a vehicle capable of high speeds and awesome rock makes me insane. But in this case, I think it was worth it!
After tonight, I have exactly six classes and one exit interview left on campus and student teaching. In two weeks, I will be Catholic.
This journey is almost coming to an end....and so is Lent and our Lent Blog. It's like a great big culmination!
March 8, 2013
My Turn...But Not Really
So, it's my turn to miss writing about something for Lent. After giving Angela grief about it, I'll be surprised if she doesn't say something. I have an added bonus though. Because she's two hours behind me and this blog is set up on "her time" the only way anyone would know that I missed a day was if I said something. Which I am doing, because I have honor. If you want to get really technical, I haven't gone to sleep again, so this might still count as part of "Friday". It's at least Friday in spirit!
I told Angela she should write on a Sunday to make up for missing a day, but since I write on Sundays I can't exactly follow my own example. I suppose I'll just have to post twice today! Which is fine, because I fully intended to write today anyway.
I suppose I owe this to Angela, though:
I told Angela she should write on a Sunday to make up for missing a day, but since I write on Sundays I can't exactly follow my own example. I suppose I'll just have to post twice today! Which is fine, because I fully intended to write today anyway.
I suppose I owe this to Angela, though:
March 6, 2013
Random Acts of Kindness
I've been seeing a lot of stuff on the news about random acts of kindness and it's made me start thinking about my own life. When I started this Lent blog with Angela, it was because we both wanted to "do something" for lent, but we couldn't figure out what. Giving something up, we decided, was commendable, but doing something was better. I don't know how we came to the conclusion of writing a blog. I think it was a natural solution to the ongoing "We should start a website/blog" conversation we'd been having for some time.
Now don't get me wrong, I actually really like doing this Lent blog. I like taking time out of my life to devote to writing. That's kind of the issue I've been struggling with this year, though. Am I really writing a blog for Lent because this is in some way a testament of my faith, or is this a way to get myself to write? Based off of the content of my blogs for the last two years, I think I've come to the conclusion that it may actually be the latter.
Here's where the random acts of kindness come in. I was reading an article about a girl who is honoring her grandmother's life by doing 89 random acts of kindness. She's been talking about her journey in this process online and it's become an inspiration to many to follow her example. I think that's awesome! I think it's so awesome that this time next year, I want to come up with something I will actually do in service to God...and then I guess blog about it because I like this yearly blog tradition regardless of what the motivations are.
Now don't get me wrong, I actually really like doing this Lent blog. I like taking time out of my life to devote to writing. That's kind of the issue I've been struggling with this year, though. Am I really writing a blog for Lent because this is in some way a testament of my faith, or is this a way to get myself to write? Based off of the content of my blogs for the last two years, I think I've come to the conclusion that it may actually be the latter.
Here's where the random acts of kindness come in. I was reading an article about a girl who is honoring her grandmother's life by doing 89 random acts of kindness. She's been talking about her journey in this process online and it's become an inspiration to many to follow her example. I think that's awesome! I think it's so awesome that this time next year, I want to come up with something I will actually do in service to God...and then I guess blog about it because I like this yearly blog tradition regardless of what the motivations are.
March 2, 2013
End of an Era
Today I watched the chair I grew up with being taken apart and helped to bring in a new recliner. This shouldn't be a momentous occasion really, but my parents have had the same furniture since they were married. This means that this furniture has been in our family for almost 35 years. It was a little surreal seeing the first of it destroyed. Later on, we're going to be getting a new pair of couches, though, so everything will be gone.
I still think we need to float the couches down the river and give them a good old fashioned viking funeral, but my parents seem to be hell bent on destroying it before it leaves the house. Maybe I should suggest that this is for my blog and it ought to be something amazing! It certainly would make for some interesting stories. "Remember that time we gave our furniture a viking funeral?" Besides, this furniture is a little over 1/3 of a century old. It deserves to out spectacularly and in flame.
Ok, I completely forgot what I was going to write about today. But when I remember, it was something really cool. For now, you get a furniture story.
I still think we need to float the couches down the river and give them a good old fashioned viking funeral, but my parents seem to be hell bent on destroying it before it leaves the house. Maybe I should suggest that this is for my blog and it ought to be something amazing! It certainly would make for some interesting stories. "Remember that time we gave our furniture a viking funeral?" Besides, this furniture is a little over 1/3 of a century old. It deserves to out spectacularly and in flame.
Ok, I completely forgot what I was going to write about today. But when I remember, it was something really cool. For now, you get a furniture story.
February 27, 2013
Already Slipping
I hit the jackpot when it came to student teaching. Not only am I around for the Ancient Egypt unit (which is notoriously taught in the spring), but I get to teach the Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome units (my bread and butter, the Roman and Greek gods/goddesses stories is initially what got me interested in theology), and I get to be around for the Middle Ages unit complete with trip to Medieval Times. Everything was going swimmingly...until today.
Someone pointed out that we were going on a Friday and for those of you who don't know, they serve chicken as the dinner portion of the "dinner and tournamet". Being as it's Lent, I'm not technically supposed to eat meat. Was it wrong that my first reaction was "I can always go to confession"?
The whole not eating meat on Fridays thing always struck me as a little odd when I was growing up. Now that I understand the reason for it, I still think it's a little odd. People used to give up much more than meat on Fridays. Lent was supposed to be a time for fasting. People would give up fats and sweets, sometimes even more for the entire 40 days of Lent. I've always wanted to try doing this, but every year Lent comes around and it begins and then my brain says "Hey...weren't we going to do that traditional thing this year?" and the rest of my brain goes "Shhhhhhh...yeah...oh well." I wonder how this period of fasting got started. I also wonder when it transitioned from giving up so much to just not eating meat on Fridays. That's a pretty significant transition!
These are things I should probably be asking about while I'm in RCIA...or I could use the internet to try to answer my own questions. Chances are, I'll probably forget again, but maybe now that I wrote a blog about it, there's a chance I may remember and write a complimentary update one of these days.
Will these questions ever be answered?
Will something of more significance be posted?
Will we ever find out whether I break Lent and eat meat or if I keep true?
Stay tuned to find out!
Someone pointed out that we were going on a Friday and for those of you who don't know, they serve chicken as the dinner portion of the "dinner and tournamet". Being as it's Lent, I'm not technically supposed to eat meat. Was it wrong that my first reaction was "I can always go to confession"?
The whole not eating meat on Fridays thing always struck me as a little odd when I was growing up. Now that I understand the reason for it, I still think it's a little odd. People used to give up much more than meat on Fridays. Lent was supposed to be a time for fasting. People would give up fats and sweets, sometimes even more for the entire 40 days of Lent. I've always wanted to try doing this, but every year Lent comes around and it begins and then my brain says "Hey...weren't we going to do that traditional thing this year?" and the rest of my brain goes "Shhhhhhh...yeah...oh well." I wonder how this period of fasting got started. I also wonder when it transitioned from giving up so much to just not eating meat on Fridays. That's a pretty significant transition!
These are things I should probably be asking about while I'm in RCIA...or I could use the internet to try to answer my own questions. Chances are, I'll probably forget again, but maybe now that I wrote a blog about it, there's a chance I may remember and write a complimentary update one of these days.
Will these questions ever be answered?
Will something of more significance be posted?
Will we ever find out whether I break Lent and eat meat or if I keep true?
Stay tuned to find out!
February 18, 2013
Realignment
I've heard people say before that when you start going to church regularly and really practicing your faith, you start seeing your life realigning to a more Godly one. I never really took this seriously before. I always thought I was living a pretty good life, and I really never saw any kind of changes taking place within me. Lately, all of this has changed.
I find myself starting to feel differently about things I never really batted an eye at before. It's little stuff, really. Content on television, in songs, in movies. Stories about people mistreating others. Even disappointment in my own thoughts and actions, although it isn't nearly like the self-deprication that it was before. Ultimately, I don't think these changes are bad, it's just...different. Unexpected. I have to wonder whether this is because I've just really started taking my faith more seriously or because I've been putting more things into practice since going through RCIA.
I have to say, I kind of like the "new me". It's like a better version of the old me.
I find myself starting to feel differently about things I never really batted an eye at before. It's little stuff, really. Content on television, in songs, in movies. Stories about people mistreating others. Even disappointment in my own thoughts and actions, although it isn't nearly like the self-deprication that it was before. Ultimately, I don't think these changes are bad, it's just...different. Unexpected. I have to wonder whether this is because I've just really started taking my faith more seriously or because I've been putting more things into practice since going through RCIA.
I have to say, I kind of like the "new me". It's like a better version of the old me.
February 13, 2013
Gettin' Down and Dirty
The time of Lent has come upon us again.
This year, as with last year, the only agreement that Angela and I have made is that "We are definitely doing a Lent blog" and "both of us had better contribute". This leaves me pretty much in the same place that I was last year: struggling to come up with an idea to write about for every day of the week, and in the middle of an endless supply of school work and real life obligations. Last year, I chose to write a weekly piece about things that began with every letter of "LENT". This year, I don't think I have the time to do that, and here's why.
As an added bonus to getting my teaching certification and my Master's degree, I've also decided to join RCIA and become Catholic.
I know. I must be crazy. With numerous other obligations and responsibilities, adding one more thing into this mix just seems insane. But with five more weeks to go or so until I'm confirmed Catholic, I can say I don't regret doing this now. The time just seems right. So, I started thinking about what I could do for a Lent blog this year, with time constraints, and homework, and lesson planning and all that lovely stuff that goes along with getting a degree and becoming a certified instructor, the only thing I can think to write about which would be managable is my experience going through RCIA, culminating in Lent, my first confession, first communion, and eventually confirmation. Last year, I avoided the topic of religion and politics as much as possible and wrote many a blog of how lame I was for having too much homework to write a blog, littered with appologies, and a sense that what I was doing wasn't really achieving anything or really in the spirit of a "Lent blog". This year, I choose to write about my experiences in my new chosen faith.
You are warned, reader.
Ash Wednesday:
I've participated in Ash Wednesday services before, but never at a Catholic church. I really didn't know what to expect. Essentially, it was the same as mass except we went up to the altar twice instead of once. Well, most people went up twice instead of once. I chose to stay back during the Eucharist because there were a lot of people and I don't think I can take it yet anyway. I had sort of an epiphany today, actually. The entire service is about recognizing our condition as sinners and the need for a savior, the ashes reminding us of our imperfect nature.
When I was growing up in a Protestant church, I pretty much always felt alone with my sins. I mean, the message doesn't really change about trying not to sin, but there's like this whole unspoken-ness about sins and sinning (at least in the church I grew up in, but I've heard similar things with other people I've talked to who are also Protestant). I want to focus on my own experience here, because I certainly don't believe that all churches are like this, or that only Catholic churches are free of what I've gone through growing up. But I digress. So my experience from my youth: sinning is a private matter between you and God; if you screw up, you pray about it and do better in the future. Feel guilty about it? Just keep preying. Sure, you could talk to someone about it, but there's a pretty good chance it's going to end up all over the church if you do, so just be prepared for that.
I feel like I've grown up with this skewed idea of sinners and sins from my upbringing. I personally have low self-esteem anyway, and I find I always put everyone else on this pedestal. I constantly struggle with guilt, feelings of inadequacy, more guilt, and a fear of letting others see me as anything less than a morally upright young woman who never makes mistakes because God forbid that happen. But today, as I'm sitting in a service reminding us that we're all sinners and inviting the entire congregation to come up and put ashes on their foreheads in acceptance of this fact, my mind was completely blown. For the first time in all the years of my life going to church, I no longer feel inadequate, or worried that anyone else is going to find out I'm a sinner. It's as if being a part of this experience, this acceptance of sin, this resolve to try to follow Christ and live a more righteous life has freed me from my old insecurities and perhaps to a degree, self-denial. I also feel like I've taken the first steps towards trying to be less judgmental, we'll see how that goes. One can only hope.
It's actually kind of remarkable how a little smudge on your forehead can really change you.
~Kritz
This year, as with last year, the only agreement that Angela and I have made is that "We are definitely doing a Lent blog" and "both of us had better contribute". This leaves me pretty much in the same place that I was last year: struggling to come up with an idea to write about for every day of the week, and in the middle of an endless supply of school work and real life obligations. Last year, I chose to write a weekly piece about things that began with every letter of "LENT". This year, I don't think I have the time to do that, and here's why.
As an added bonus to getting my teaching certification and my Master's degree, I've also decided to join RCIA and become Catholic.
I know. I must be crazy. With numerous other obligations and responsibilities, adding one more thing into this mix just seems insane. But with five more weeks to go or so until I'm confirmed Catholic, I can say I don't regret doing this now. The time just seems right. So, I started thinking about what I could do for a Lent blog this year, with time constraints, and homework, and lesson planning and all that lovely stuff that goes along with getting a degree and becoming a certified instructor, the only thing I can think to write about which would be managable is my experience going through RCIA, culminating in Lent, my first confession, first communion, and eventually confirmation. Last year, I avoided the topic of religion and politics as much as possible and wrote many a blog of how lame I was for having too much homework to write a blog, littered with appologies, and a sense that what I was doing wasn't really achieving anything or really in the spirit of a "Lent blog". This year, I choose to write about my experiences in my new chosen faith.
You are warned, reader.
Ash Wednesday:
I've participated in Ash Wednesday services before, but never at a Catholic church. I really didn't know what to expect. Essentially, it was the same as mass except we went up to the altar twice instead of once. Well, most people went up twice instead of once. I chose to stay back during the Eucharist because there were a lot of people and I don't think I can take it yet anyway. I had sort of an epiphany today, actually. The entire service is about recognizing our condition as sinners and the need for a savior, the ashes reminding us of our imperfect nature.
When I was growing up in a Protestant church, I pretty much always felt alone with my sins. I mean, the message doesn't really change about trying not to sin, but there's like this whole unspoken-ness about sins and sinning (at least in the church I grew up in, but I've heard similar things with other people I've talked to who are also Protestant). I want to focus on my own experience here, because I certainly don't believe that all churches are like this, or that only Catholic churches are free of what I've gone through growing up. But I digress. So my experience from my youth: sinning is a private matter between you and God; if you screw up, you pray about it and do better in the future. Feel guilty about it? Just keep preying. Sure, you could talk to someone about it, but there's a pretty good chance it's going to end up all over the church if you do, so just be prepared for that.
I feel like I've grown up with this skewed idea of sinners and sins from my upbringing. I personally have low self-esteem anyway, and I find I always put everyone else on this pedestal. I constantly struggle with guilt, feelings of inadequacy, more guilt, and a fear of letting others see me as anything less than a morally upright young woman who never makes mistakes because God forbid that happen. But today, as I'm sitting in a service reminding us that we're all sinners and inviting the entire congregation to come up and put ashes on their foreheads in acceptance of this fact, my mind was completely blown. For the first time in all the years of my life going to church, I no longer feel inadequate, or worried that anyone else is going to find out I'm a sinner. It's as if being a part of this experience, this acceptance of sin, this resolve to try to follow Christ and live a more righteous life has freed me from my old insecurities and perhaps to a degree, self-denial. I also feel like I've taken the first steps towards trying to be less judgmental, we'll see how that goes. One can only hope.
It's actually kind of remarkable how a little smudge on your forehead can really change you.
~Kritz
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