Lent

Creative title, I know.

Anyway, let's talk.

I'm working on things regarding religion.  I'm not the person I used to be in high school and early college.  And honestly, that's a good thing.  That person was closed minded and not open to the ideas of others.  I could probably go into what part of college development theory this fits in, but I'll spare you all the boring details.  Who am I now?  Well, that's a good question.  And also the reason I'm still alive right?  Living every day to figure out who this person is and what my purpose is.

I digress.  Religiously, I am a lot more open minded and aware of others.  I am also a lot less religious than i was a few years ago.  Is this a good thing?  Um, I'm still working on that.

What I have learned, though, is that I have been opened up to new experiences and ideas through RISE here in Harrisonburg.  One of these things is the season of Lent.  While I was growing up, I never participated in this tradition.  It wasn't something my family and our church put into practice.  I new what it was though.  It's something that you have to do before Easter to prove to God that you understand the sacrifices surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus.  You know, you would strop drinking the one soda a month you struggle with and stop eating that candy bar you're addicted to (you know, the one you only eat every 3 months?).  That totally encompasses the season and the sacrifice.

Right?

Eh, I'm going to go with no.

So, here's the condensed version of Lent.....according to Cody.

This is a great season.  Especially if you understand the concept.  While there is a great sense of sacrifice that is involved, there is a lot more to it than that.

Let's touch on the sacrifice part:  Giving up the soda you don't have a problem with doesn't mean anything.  The point of something being sacrificed is to bring a feeling of loss and longing for something to make it better.  Maybe this isn't the best way to put it, but it's a basic way of saying that you should give something up that may throw off your routine or make you feel uncomfortable to the point you need to find solace in another way.  So, maybe you drink 5 sodas a day, think about how it would feel to only drink one (or even none).  That could mess you up....but what's wrong with that?  You could spend that time you'd be drinking a soda (or that time you're longing to drink a soda) talking to God.  Or maybe you could talk to a friend about something they're struggling with.  Or maybe you could redevote yourself to that desire to be a writer. You see?  It's not really about what you give up, it's about the way you deal with the loss of the thing you gave up.

At the same time, the season of Lent is about realizing that you're still alive.  More than that, what are you doing with the time you still have?  So, let's go back to the soda:  you're spending all this time focusing on drinking these drinks that you're neglecting the fact you're not living.  Take that time you're left with by not drinking a soda (lame analogy, but I'm not going back to fix it) and spend it reconnecting with a broken friendship, talking to your family, and filling that void with the things you've been slacking on or neglecting lately.

Lent is a time for sacrifice.  A time for filling the void you have from focusing on the things that really aren't that important.  A time for learning more about yourself and those you interact with on a regular basis (and sometimes those you just met).

So, you ask, what about you, Cody?  What'd you give up this year?

Well, let me start by saying this: sometimes it's not about what someone has given up.  Sometimes they have given up something personal that they'd rather not talk about in a flippant, non-caring way.  So, if you're going to ask someone, realize that they may not answer or if they do they may want to have a real conversation about it and not just ramble off a list of things.  So, be prepared.

Anyway, I'll tell you what I've given up.  This year I have decided to give up drinking alcohol.  No drinks with dinner, no drinks with friends, and no going out on the weekends getting hammered.  Is alcohol something that I need?  No.  Is it going to be a sacrifice?  I believe so, especially in the social sense.  I mean, who doesn't drink these days?  (Rhetorical question.)  Am I going to stop hanging out with friends?  No.  But I am going to reevaluate priorities and relationships.  And, on a personal side, I'll save a lot of money and hopefully lose some weight.

Part two of my season: stopping eating after 9:00pm.  Well, I'll be okay with doing it on Fridays or Saturdays, but only sometimes.  This will definitely be a struggle, and I'm definitely looking forward to it.  I tend to be a late night, crappy food eater.  So, I plan on using that time to look at my decisions and my health.  I'm not going to live forever, but helping keep the time I have healthy and productive is needed.

So, I'll try and keep you all updated.  And, if I fail, well, that's okay too!

Playlist:
Songs by:  eatmewhileimhot, nevershoutnever, The Icarus Account, Stephen Jerzak, Mat Musto, The Ready Set, A Bird A Sparrow, Kill Paradise