Something About Sunny Days

I’ve quite taken to the weather that we’ve been enjoying here in Waterloo recently; it’s warm(er), sunny, and clear. All told, it has made walking outside very pleasant; maybe spring won’t be too far around the corner!

Today has been a very good day. Today is also the first day of Lent, which is a period of fourty days in which many Christians (Catholics, for example) prepare for Easter. A common practice is to abstain from something during this period, and I’ve heard a bunch of different reasons to do this. Some have said that it’s to improve one’s self-discipline. Others say that it’s to remind us of our need for God. Similarly, others say that it is to teach ourselves that we are too dependent on non-essential things and that this will train us to let go of those. Still others say that it is a sacrifice that helps purify ourselves for God.

While it could, in reality, be some combination of all of those (and more), I’d like to think that it’s mostly that last one. It incorporates a lot of the others (because of my need for God, I need to let go of my short-sightedness which, in itself, requires a self-discipline). Over the past several years, I’ve often neglected to sacrifice something, and I’ve often failed and keeping to the abstinence when I did try. This year, I’m feeling more determined than ever to make it work. And the goal is to be give it up forever.

If anyone else is planning on giving something up, do let me know (and I don’t need specifics if you want to keep it private)… I’d like to hear how others are doing and to provide encouragement for this 🙂

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