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:)