Lent starts on Wednesday. After Tuesday's blowout party that is Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday kicks off the 40-day period in which Catholics and other Christians practice denial and penitence, modeled on Christ's 40 days in the desert. Lent concludes the day before Easter.
It's traditional to give up something during Lent as a practice of abstinence. Some Christians choose junk food, TV, or, more lately, Facebook or the internet.
We asked Patch Facebook followers if they were going to give up anything for Lent, and if they would ever consider going on a digital fast. Their responses are below.
Read what other Patch followers had to say, then tell us in the comments: What, if anything, will you give up for Lent?
From Pacifica Patch Facebook:
- My sister gave up Facebook last year.
- What is Lent giving up for me?
From Redwood City-Woodside Patch Facebook:
- What an interesting idea...instead of digital connections - how about making quality face to face connection?
From Rohnert Park-Cotati Patch Facebook:
- Lint.
- I tried soda one year, that only lasted about two weeks. I'll try Starbucks this year.
From Sonoma Valley Patch Facebook:
- I think I will give up the margarita mix in my tequila :) but honestly..instead of giving up, I try to add something to my world....like giving to a charity or volunteering for an event to help a non profit.
I am Protestant, but we do also observe Lent in our tradition. And my understanding of it is that we deprive ourselves of some earthly pleasure for a time in order to have more time and energy to contemplate who Jesus is and what He's done for us. And I think the joy, freedom, and peace that comes from that awareness naturally flows into what we do for others. So it's not just "giving up" - it's giving up something self-focused to gain a benefit for all mankind (the benefit being our positive attitudes/actions toward others). I love the idea of giving up something that costs money and then donating the money to a worthy cause.
Why, on Day 41, if you saw that something was really helping you, would you stop doing it?