Entry 66: Genuinely Seeking Input in Much Ado About Nothing

I am genuinely seeking input on this matter so please feel free to leave your say in the comments.

Lent starts in the coming week. Fat Tuesday is March 4th, Ash Wednesday is March 5th (and Daylight Savings Time is March 9th). Traditionally, Lent involves rituals of sacrifice amongst some Christian Denominations. A brief history:

Beginning about six weeks before Easter, Lent is a time traditionally set aside for fasting, prayer, and reflection in preparation to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While observed for centuries by Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Christians (and certainly others), Lenten traditions and practices have evolved over time. Historians generally agree that the 40-day period before Easter, known as Lent, emerged shortly following the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Earliest observances of Lent seem to have focused particularly on the practice of fasting. The emergence of various new Christian movements during the Protestant Reformation dramatically affected the tradition of Lent. While some Protestants continued to observe Lent, such as the Lutherans, some like the newly emerged Calvinists criticized the annual rite, claiming there was no scriptural basis for it. They condemned Lent as “man’s” tradition and a works-based vanity. But over the years, Lent has become less strict in almost every western tradition. In the Catholic Church, for example, the number of obligatory fasting days decreased incrementally from six days a week to three, and then eventually, to just two in the whole season of Lent: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The well known “fish on Friday” tradition began in the United States in 1966 when the Pope affirmed the abstinence from “flesh” on Fridays. In every tradition, however, the act of “giving something up” has remained strong. For all of these changes, though, the tradition of Lent is still largely recognizable to what it was nearly 2,000 years ago.

Now, Lent has meant different kinds of sacrifice to different people. Most of the Catholics I work with are still strict about Fish on Friday. Few of them realize why other than “The Pope said” but that is for them to embrace. Many of the Lutherans I have known in my life “give something up” for Lent. Oftentimes it can be something as “silly” as Chocolate; but sometimes it can be something more meaningful. Buffy in the height of her teenaged years gave up Diet Mountain Dew and Chocolate Shakes.... her two “after school de-stress coping mechanisms” in an effort to center her mind and spirit on prayer and devotion as a “de-stress” focus. Ultimately, for those who practice- Lent and the actions taken in/due to Lent is supposed to be an exercise in reminding us daily of our devotion to our faith, and strengthening our understanding of that devotion.

It is in this spirit that I seek input.

For many, removing something from their lives temporarily is the Go To Move. “I’ll stop drinking” which usually becomes “I’ll stop drinking brown liquors” which then becomes “I’ll stop drinking Whiskey” and the erosion of the concept from there. But I would argue that removal needn’t be the only path to devotion. Sometimes adding something healthy could be the proper path. For some it would be “I’ll add a daily devotional each morning” or “I’ll make sure to read all 4 Gospels before Easter.” So, there are ways to observe the Lent Season by either giving something up or by adding something to. Without revealing what, I would be interested to know people’s thoughts.

(1) Is it acceptable to add instead of remove to recognize Lent? Why or Why Not?
(2) Whether you find it acceptable or not; does it change how you view the Season of Lent or the Spirit of Lent?
(3) If you’re on the fence, would “1 remove an 1 add” change your opinion? To follow tradition while also modifying tradition?
(4) If you were contemplating “Remove or Add” which would you select?
(5) Finally, if there were a card game where you were able to select your suit - whichever suit you selected were the cards you were trying to obtain in the game - what suit would you select?