The Need of Self Denial

I have always been somewhat curious about the observance of Lent .  A time in the Catholic Church that runs from Ash Wednesday thru Easter.  The traditional purpose of  Lent is the preperation of the believer - through prayer, penitence, giving, and sacrifice or self denial. 

It is the area of sacrifice / self denial that I find so fascinating.  I have several friends and family who practice the Catholic religion, in fact Vincent is Catholic and each year as Lent comes around I hear the list of things that they decide to ban from their lives for the next aproximately 40 days.  Usually the list consists of soft drinks, certain rich and/or fatty foods,  and so on.  I worked with a woman once who each year made it a point to announce to everyone the approachement of Lent as well as the list of items she would be denying herself that year.  For forty days we would endure her daily lamenting of her trials and how hard they were yet how uplifting they were.  I will admit that in many cases I do not mind such things too much especially when it truly is a difficult walk. Although I would respect them more if they took their journey of walking on broken glass  in silence.  It is a bit more difficult to respect them let alone listen to them if their sacrifice is due to the fact that they have not had a Dr. Pepper in over a week. 

I do understand that not all people who practice this observance do so in the manner that I have described above.  I do know that there are many who truly honor its meaning and what it means to them.  Let me say also that it is not fair for me to also judge the items that one may choose to keep from themselves for this time.  I learned this lesson well last year.  My daughter, a new Catholic herself - who accepted this faith when she got married - celebrated her first Lent season last year.  One of the things she gave up was peanut butter.  Now when I first heard this I had to chuckle a bit as I thought it a bit silly until I talked with her just prior to Easter.  It truly was a sacrifice for her to keep this from herself as she is a peanut butter freak.  Although I think there are better areas that one can self deny themselves, for her this seemed to work its purpose.

I myself have always been one that if I choose to observe Lent, I would be hard on myself.  I feel that self denial and sacrifice have a wonderful way of making you look at the real picture by getting the clutter out of the way.  In older times fasting and abstinence were common items that were practiced at Lent.  I know many who still practice fasting today at this time, yet far from the extreme of earlier times. Fasting has always interested me and when I have observed it, I have found it to be an extremely cleansing time and also one of enlightenment.  As for abstinence, I am not sure  how widely this is practiced.  Yet I can see the benefit of its exclusion from ones life for a period of time as well.   

It is the absence of any of these things that gives one more time to reflect and think on themselves and also to question the importance they may be giving to such areas of their lives.  It clears things from our current lifestyle and daily routine.  I will admit I am not genius when it comes to the theology of the Catholic religion and thus this is based all on my opinions and also my readings, as well as observance of the many Catholics I know.  Yet I think it is much like anyone who wishes to seek out answers to questions they may have.  It is a means to seek enlightenment for the path we choose to take. 

Vincent is once again observing Lent this season.  I find it helpful and supportive to participate in it also, yet I refuse to call it Lent.  I feel that if I have items or areas in my life that need such drastic work that I need to deny them from myself that I need to  honestly ask myself if they need to be removed all together... And thus this is what I intend to do... I liken it much to awaiting the arrival of Spring, which is a time of new beginnings and new growth.  (much what Easter also represents)  Once again, we see the practices of old times (Imbolc, Beltane and so on) being manifested into a holiday  or practice that man can control in some sense.  Yet that is a soap box all of its own. 

In closing I think that we could all learn from this practice.  As isn't it what we do ourselves each year as the wheel turns and we recognize the changing of the seasons and the coming of spring.  Looking for the warmth to return to the earth and the new sprouts to shoot out of the fertile soil.  Shouldn't we likewise look at ourselves and ask if there are any areas that we should deny or attune ourselves to in order to prepare for this time.  Whatever you choose... blessings to you and may you find the answers you seek.