Lent | Here's What I'm Thinking

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018 – Friends, Romans, Kneelers Lent Me Your Ears.

Posted on February 14, 2018 | Leave a comment

Wednesday, February 14, 2018 – Friends, Romans, Kneelers Lent Me Your Ears.

Today is Ash Wednesday marking the first day of the season of Lent. What does it mean? I am so glad you ashed.

Lent (Latin: Quadragesima: Fortieth) is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, before Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, and self-denial. This event is observed in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, and Catholic Churches.

Some Anabaptist and evangelical churches also observe the Lenten season. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the tradition and events of the New Testament beginning on Palm Sunday, further climaxing on Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, which ultimately culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many mark this day by receiving ashes in the form of the cross on their forehead from a priest or minister. Believers make a commitment to sacrifice and avoid the “lead us not into temptation” thing. Some give up something such as smoking, drinking, gum, or candy. Others, like me, try to do something positive to make a difference.

In fact, Here’s What I’m Thinking was started as a Lenten commitment about five years ago. The purpose was to make someone laugh and/or think on a daily basis.

During Lent, I do not eat meat on Fridays. This is much harder than you think. Think Bubba Gump shrimp each and every Friday. I usually blow it toward the end of the season when a cheeseburger inadvertently goes into my mouth. WE shall see this year.

Today is also St. Valentine’s Day.

Here’s wishing you, peace, love and Sam Cooke.

https://youtu.be/S28tILqie1o

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 – Let Me Ash You Something – Do You Observe Lent?

Posted on March 2, 2017 | 1 comment

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 – Let Me Ash You Something – Do You Observe Lent?

If you answered with “the dryer lint?” then that is incorrect. So Lenten up.

Today is Ash Wednesday. If your faith is in one of those descended from the kneelers – Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist – to name a few, then the observance of Lent is part of your upbringing. For observers it marks the beginning of the days leading to Easter Sunday. It is a time of reflection and prayer when observers remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness prior to His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

It is called Ash Wednesday because at religious services one receives ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross. It calls attention to one’s mortality. We are all just a bunch of God’s dust bunnies running around until He says “Come Home.”

The ashes actually come from burning the fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. They do not come from the nuns and priests staying up all night smoking cigars and playing poker as my Louisiana relatives used to tell me.

It is a period of time when one sacrifices something they enjoy in an effort to make the world a better place. One may also choose to do something they have not done before. It is about the commitment to be a better person.

Ash Wednesday 2014 my Lenten commitment was to start this blog – Here’s What I’m Thinking. In spite of the entries you might read, it began as and continues to be a spiritual endeavor. I committed to write something each day of the week to try to make at least one person laugh and/or think.

Palo Duro Canyon Trip 4.15 2015-04-19 050 (800x600)

Palo Duro Canyon 2015 – Photo by me.

Since that time my Lenten commitment is always to recommit to HWIT with the caveat to get better and get more followers. In addition this year I am giving up some time in my day. I was going to give up being sarcastic and to stop cussing, but that would only make me a damn mute.

Instead I decided to say the Rosary once a day. I wonder where my beads are? Tony, Tony, please come round. – Catholic thing.

Here’s what I’m thinking – If Jesus can spend 40 days in the wilderness with no TV, no Pandora, no Internet, no Facebook, no Twitter, – just Him and Devil at every corner, then you can sacrifice or do something for 40 days.

What are you waiting for?