Ash Wednesday

[breakinglight11]

So Mardi Gras has come and gone without me really settling on what to give up for Lent. I think what I may do is challenge myself to keep kosher AND stay away from processed sugar. That way I won't be getting complacent, and I will still be able to make the gesture of respect I actually do find significant to those in my life for whom kashrut is important. It'll most certainly suck more than usual, but hey, my waistline and my pocketbook will thank me for being unable to buy Coke, candy, and cake, in addition to the more personally meaningful sacrifice.

I might go to the Ash Wednesday service on campus. I haven't been to church in so long, I miss it. I had a weird a fairly negative experience last time I went, and I should replace that connection with a better one. Also, for some reason, the Ash Wednesday litany of "You are but dust and to dust you shall return," is oddly powerful for me. I don't know why, but sometimes the bleakest Catholic philosophical tropes are the ones that are most comforting to me. So perhaps I'll go and observe in the traditional way.

As a final note, however, I find juldea's post on the subject sufficiently hilarious that I must direct you to it. :-D

Comments

[flyingstalins.livejournal.com]

It's not bleak, because it finds its meaning in God's mercy. In the humility of recognizing what we are, we are reminded of what God is, and what He calls and draws us to become. To know that we are dust, but are, by His grace, being brought to unity with God is an absolutely mind-blowing occasion for gratitude and joy.

also hello, we keep saying we'll hang out and don't. this is largely my fault, I'm not sure when I'll be able to fix that because my schedule will be crazy for a while, but just know that you aren't off the hook/ out of the woods yet.