There are seasons of grace. Lent for me is a season of constructive change. There is a resource available, a special outpouring of the grace of God, present in this season.
I can channel this so many ways. It seems good to me this Lent to channel it toward discipline in my sleep habits. Getting to bed at a decent hour so I can rise earlier and fresher. Pretty simple. So hard. Not as hard in this season of grace. 40 days to change.
Then there is the fasting. I am doing my old standby. One large coffee per day. For me this is a sacrifice! I am also observing the meatless Fridays. Sundays there is no Lent happenning so I will be grinding mucho beans those days.
Have a joyful Lent!
Well, it is still 40 days...from Wikipedia:
Ash Wednesday, which may fall anywhere between February 4 and March 10, occurs forty-six days before Easter, but Lent is nevertheless considered to be forty days long, due to the fact that Sundays in this season are not counted among the days of Lent. The traditional reason for this is that fasting was considered inappropriate on Sunday, the day commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus.
Posted by: Tom Mohan | February 27, 2007 at 03:07 PM
I thought it was an entire 40 days of drudgery. :) Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Laura | February 27, 2007 at 05:57 AM
Yes!
Since every Sunday commemorates our Lord's resurrection it is typical not to carry on the chosen fast or abstinence on that day. Sometimes it is easier to carry it through Sundays as well...but not required. The Sundays are not counted in adding up the 40 days of Lent either.
Posted by: Tommy Mohan | February 27, 2007 at 12:06 AM
Sundays are free?
Posted by: Laura | February 26, 2007 at 10:24 AM