Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Lenten Reflection

I didn't give up anything for Lent. If I had to give up something it would have been shopping and telephone conversations. Some people gave up chocolate, some gave up deserts, a blogger shut off her comments. I guess you don't have to be Catholic to give up something for Lent. In our area it will be "Fish Fry's Fridays" for any fundraisers. As a kid I recall that every Friday during Lent was a fish stick day at school lunch. Hey, I liked fish sticks as long as there was tarter sauce I was happy. All the school kids gave up meat on Friday because the Catholic children were required to abstain from meat on Friday.

I only have one bone to pick with the Catholics and that would probably be with the secretary who is in charge of funeral services programs. Us Lutherans are used to a written order of service, one that says "Please stand" or "You may be seated" and has the proper responses to the order of service. Without such a program..we are totally lost. We don't know what to do or when. We will always feel out of place, and out of sinc.

I just happen to be Lutheran, Far Guy too, we went to the same church. Far Guy did date a Catholic girl once, his Mom called her "the Catholic with big feet."

I was in the hospital once with the Asian Flu back in the 1950's the nurses were all nuns, they were kind and gentle but a bit scary in their habits..I always wondered if they were totally bald under their head garb. I met a Sister who was Stan's sister, she totally demystified the Nun thing for me, she was a missionary, she laughed, she cried, she told great stories. She wore jeans and her red hair was short and curly. She was fairly normal, she was happy to be a Nun.

Lutherans have enough problems, they never want to sit in the front pews, they fill up the church from the back first..everyone wants a back row seat. They want a front row seat in heaven, but the last pews of the church are fine until then. They keep track of people who come to church, yes sir they have a list, what are they going to do..save it and give it to God?

I understand that Lent should be a time of reflection, but it can become too much about ourselves, why can't our reflection be turned outward? Less about what I give up and more about what I can give or share with others.

I have a dear friend who is a Jew. He is 95 years old, sharp as a tack. He and I go round and round about our faith. He understands that I will never be a Jew and I understand that he will never be a Lutheran. But we are still friends. I have an Uncle and Aunt that are Jehovah Witnesses, they were both raised Lutheran, I love them both. I have a friend who is an atheist.. I am still working on him:)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen!

TJ said...

Faith is one word: Believe
That should work for all of us.
You have such a nice journal.
Keep it up...photos and all are very interesting.
TJ

Lanny said...

I agree with your rhetorical question.
Giving up shouldn't be self focused other wise it misses the point. Giving out is every bit a part of my Catholic heritage, it was about giving up self, however that needed to be for the individual. The practice of giving up something should highlight for the Christian just how much we are self-indulgent in our daily lives and how much of our lives are consummed with taking in instead of giving out. Some folks, and this can be true of any denomination, don't really understand what they are doing when they are doing the stuff of their group, and like you said, that can be the good or bad.

Anonymous said...

Love that bit about wanting a front row in heaven but a back row in church!

To answer some of your questions about my spark or kick-sled: The runners are very narrow so you have to balance on them. Sounds difficult but it's not. You don't need to wax them, although they could probably do with sharpening. The blades do not run well in deep snow. When you buy a spark, it comes with rubber coverings that you can put over the blades. These rubber thingies mean that you can then use the spark even in deep snow.

Pamela said...

Years ago I attended a Lutheran church for awhile -- just to sing in the choir. My friend went there and they really really really needed a soprano.

Once, I asked a Jewish acquaintance if he was Jewish (ethnic) or Jewish (religion) and he told me it was one & the same. I never forgot that answer. Made me consider how people viewed me.... Am I one person on Sunday and someone else the rest of the week?