Lent & all its trappings
Obviously I have been lax because Eastern Lent started on Monday.
Who knew?
Not I, apparently.
A relative of sorts sent me a v.helpful rules & regulations FB message regarding Lent and all I can say is, talk about strict observance!
Another reading that I did regarding Eastern Orthodox Lent (where I conveniently skipped the part of it starting on Monday) says Lent observers should abstain from meat, dairy & dairy products, fish and Oil.!!!
Oil!!!
You could have oil (and wine :)) on the Sabbath and Sunday
but not on the third Sabbath or something of that sort.
Oi Vey!!!
It all seemed rather confusing to me, there seems to be about a trillion rules and narry an explanation of why so many.
So for my v. own edification, here are the whys, hows and whens of how I am going to go about doing the Lent thing
The Whys
I think the past year has been one of tremendous growth & upheavals (and not always the sad kind) for the family & I. And I feel the need to take a stock of my life, my growth as a human and where this life is heading.
Side Note: Indulging/Practising your faith takes on a different hue when you are in an interfaith marriage.
We are a pretty ... I don't want to say irreligious ...but sort of 'anything goes by way of religion' household?
No that's not it.
it's...
Ok,
You know how the boy has his car and I have mine (or rather his old car...sigh)
I have a crucifix in mine and he has a little gold circle pendant with words from the Quran on it.
And we interchange cars often & don't mind the presence of either's faith.
That's how we are about each other's religion.
We do read a bit (read see documentaries) about the copted origins of our Abrahamic faith just so we have a better understanding of how to present us to our kids or present our kids with a working understanding of their spiritual circumstance.
We are completely prepared for the assault of conflict when we have children (sort of a co-owned car) but here's hoping that the foundation of understanding that we've built over the past 7 years will stand us in good stead.
Uhm...where was this side note going?
uhm...
no, Ok - I completely lost my train of thought.
End side note
Back to the whys of the Lent
The other day A.D and I were looking through wedding photos of a less-than-loved acquaintance and bitched about her aunt who had put a safety pin outside the pleats and not under it.
That was so wrong.
I have been finding myself being covetous of those with babies...uhmm...actually just critical of those with bad taste & babies - sigh, petty much?, those whose sister did not have leukemia, those with in laws who are not going to come stay with them in July for (gasp) 2 months (Which I fully recognise is a good-get-to-know thing for I have never really spent any time with my mother-in-law, but still 2 months!!!), those whose families were closer geographically, and a whole host of other things.
And it's made me incredibly bitchy. Like 'pointing out a safety pin on the outside of a pleat on random poor aunt's sari' bitchy!
I am grateful that my sister is better and that we have the means to have another round of chemo if she does or does not require it, but the wish that it had never ever happened or that life could be wiped cleaned of any blemishes and flaws and ills is constantly with me.
And therefore, if I can't mine off my flaws, I will find them in others to bitch about.
Long and convoluted explanation of why
I want this vicious circle of bitching to end.
I want to come to a deeper understanding/a more joyful acceptance about my life
So, I am hoping this 40 day period will give me an opportunity to reflect on all of above.
The Hows
Random relative's note on the hows was quite comprehensive:
1. avoid all meat, fish, animal products, that actually includes dairy and eggs too,
Tick. Game on. But gawd, I'll miss my morning coffee ! and the meat and the FISH!!!
oH god the Fish.
The boy is making baked tilapia today and buying me the most gorgeous burger from Five Guys~ to sustain me on my non-fish, non-meat drought!
2. avoid sexual relations,
Uhmm...I am skipping this one. Because this rule seems to ignore the fact that the partner might an be unLenting 'heathen' & it seems slightly unfair on the non-lenting boy. And really, 40 days of avoiding sexual relations will be quite a hardship for the two of us :)
3. avoid lying, abusing, cursing, anger and gluttony,
And gossiping
4. giving alms n charity,
I am going to try and volunteer at a soup kitchen
5. fasting by forsaking meals (atleast 1 meal a day)
o-k (lunch it is)
6. pray all the prescribed prayers and do all kumbidals.
Uhmm...Ok - I am going pray more but not doing any prescribed ones or the kumbidals, which are a sort of prostrating prayer, I think?
7, holy confession and Qurbana
Not doing the confession bit because I don't believe in it.
The Communion - ok I think I am game for one.
I think I am going to add that I'll try and make it to church every Sunday.
Not going to be strict about which kind
8. reading bible regularly,
ok.
9, cleaning full house
Tick.
10, maintaining silence and calmness in physical and mental body
I am not really sure what this means. But I am thinking it's a way of saying what I yammered on above about finding peace.
The Whens
Since I, obviously, am a little late for the Eastern one, I am spending today cleaning the house, as per rule 9.
And tomorrow, game on Lent!!!!
Who knew?
Not I, apparently.
A relative of sorts sent me a v.helpful rules & regulations FB message regarding Lent and all I can say is, talk about strict observance!
Another reading that I did regarding Eastern Orthodox Lent (where I conveniently skipped the part of it starting on Monday) says Lent observers should abstain from meat, dairy & dairy products, fish and Oil.!!!
Oil!!!
You could have oil (and wine :)) on the Sabbath and Sunday
but not on the third Sabbath or something of that sort.
Oi Vey!!!
It all seemed rather confusing to me, there seems to be about a trillion rules and narry an explanation of why so many.
So for my v. own edification, here are the whys, hows and whens of how I am going to go about doing the Lent thing
The Whys
I think the past year has been one of tremendous growth & upheavals (and not always the sad kind) for the family & I. And I feel the need to take a stock of my life, my growth as a human and where this life is heading.
Side Note: Indulging/Practising your faith takes on a different hue when you are in an interfaith marriage.
We are a pretty ... I don't want to say irreligious ...but sort of 'anything goes by way of religion' household?
No that's not it.
it's...
Ok,
You know how the boy has his car and I have mine (or rather his old car...sigh)
I have a crucifix in mine and he has a little gold circle pendant with words from the Quran on it.
And we interchange cars often & don't mind the presence of either's faith.
That's how we are about each other's religion.
We do read a bit (read see documentaries) about the copted origins of our Abrahamic faith just so we have a better understanding of how to present us to our kids or present our kids with a working understanding of their spiritual circumstance.
We are completely prepared for the assault of conflict when we have children (sort of a co-owned car) but here's hoping that the foundation of understanding that we've built over the past 7 years will stand us in good stead.
Uhm...where was this side note going?
uhm...
no, Ok - I completely lost my train of thought.
End side note
Back to the whys of the Lent
- I'd like to spend a little time not doing the things that I always do. A retreat of sorts from my carnal instincts.
- I want to spend time being grateful to God for all that has made me me - all the events, all the people. And to spend time praying for my loved ones and maybe for unloved ones. Really praying.
- I yearn to get some discipline in my life. I think I live on a completely carnal, sort of by-the-flesh level.
The other day A.D and I were looking through wedding photos of a less-than-loved acquaintance and bitched about her aunt who had put a safety pin outside the pleats and not under it.
That was so wrong.
I have been finding myself being covetous of those with babies...uhmm...actually just critical of those with bad taste & babies - sigh, petty much?, those whose sister did not have leukemia, those with in laws who are not going to come stay with them in July for (gasp) 2 months (Which I fully recognise is a good-get-to-know thing for I have never really spent any time with my mother-in-law, but still 2 months!!!), those whose families were closer geographically, and a whole host of other things.
And it's made me incredibly bitchy. Like 'pointing out a safety pin on the outside of a pleat on random poor aunt's sari' bitchy!
I am grateful that my sister is better and that we have the means to have another round of chemo if she does or does not require it, but the wish that it had never ever happened or that life could be wiped cleaned of any blemishes and flaws and ills is constantly with me.
And therefore, if I can't mine off my flaws, I will find them in others to bitch about.
Long and convoluted explanation of why
I want this vicious circle of bitching to end.
I want to come to a deeper understanding/a more joyful acceptance about my life
So, I am hoping this 40 day period will give me an opportunity to reflect on all of above.
The Hows
Random relative's note on the hows was quite comprehensive:
1. avoid all meat, fish, animal products, that actually includes dairy and eggs too,
Tick. Game on. But gawd, I'll miss my morning coffee ! and the meat and the FISH!!!
oH god the Fish.
The boy is making baked tilapia today and buying me the most gorgeous burger from Five Guys~ to sustain me on my non-fish, non-meat drought!
2. avoid sexual relations,
Uhmm...I am skipping this one. Because this rule seems to ignore the fact that the partner might an be unLenting 'heathen' & it seems slightly unfair on the non-lenting boy. And really, 40 days of avoiding sexual relations will be quite a hardship for the two of us :)
3. avoid lying, abusing, cursing, anger and gluttony,
And gossiping
4. giving alms n charity,
I am going to try and volunteer at a soup kitchen
5. fasting by forsaking meals (atleast 1 meal a day)
o-k (lunch it is)
6. pray all the prescribed prayers and do all kumbidals.
Uhmm...Ok - I am going pray more but not doing any prescribed ones or the kumbidals, which are a sort of prostrating prayer, I think?
7, holy confession and Qurbana
Not doing the confession bit because I don't believe in it.
The Communion - ok I think I am game for one.
I think I am going to add that I'll try and make it to church every Sunday.
Not going to be strict about which kind
8. reading bible regularly,
ok.
9, cleaning full house
Tick.
10, maintaining silence and calmness in physical and mental body
I am not really sure what this means. But I am thinking it's a way of saying what I yammered on above about finding peace.
The Whens
Since I, obviously, am a little late for the Eastern one, I am spending today cleaning the house, as per rule 9.
And tomorrow, game on Lent!!!!
3 comments:
I take that the lastest point to be sitting still, quieting the mind and breathing. Your average meditation. Can substitute corpse pose (U used to practice yoga no?).
I dont think Meditation is a Hindu practice, as my old roommate argues. Anyone can practice it if they wish, yes?
Dont know what to wish you- luck? Peace? Joy? All of the above-Yeah!!
Hey....good luck with it - it'll def be a huge acheivement once on the other side. :D
Well, very few people around here observe the full Lent these days--that is the one without eggs and milk too. Most people around here just quit the meat, fish and eggs and of course alcohol. [So this town is like a really quiet town for the whole 7 weeks -that is the full Eastern Lent.] Me, I've just given up the meat and fish and the occasional alcohol. Then again Lent is when it gets really hot and humid here and so is a great time to eat salads and fruits.
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