Ash Wednesday

[dreamflower]

Sometimes the Lord moves in not so mysterious ways. The DH and I are still getting over being sick the last couple of weeks, and when we talked it over this afternoon, we decided that we were going to stay home from the Ash Wednesday service--both of us are still coughing and easily tired out.

Until we got a call from the pastor, asking the DH if he would mind giving a ride to one of the ladies he usually drives on the bus two Sundays a month.

The service was lovely and made me thoughtful.

I am going to attempt to give up negativity for Lent.

Let us see how successful I will be.

Comments

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I don't think of you as a remotely negative person so it should be fairly easy for you!

[labourslamp.livejournal.com]

*grin* That's excellent! Ash Wednesday has to be one of my favorite minor festivals (feels odd calling it a festival, though!), especially when the service focuses on just the right things.

I haven't been able to go for the past few years, though. My church is so far away from wherever I'm living during Lent that I can't pull off a weekday trip.

That challenge sounds like quite an interesting one! Does it mean "all negative thoughts," "pessimism in general," "complaining," or something else entirely? It's much harder to give up something that can't be concretely defined!

[lindelea1.livejournal.com]

Aw, now I'm wondering if there might be some practice similar to Lent in the Shire. I would love to see Merry (or Frodo) vowing to give up negativity... and being challenged by circumstances, perhaps by a young Pippin.

[dreamflower]

Well, I do have a tendency to snarkiness in general, especially if I'm trying to be clever, or if I'm a bit angry about something. And also, I've had a lot of anxiety lately and worry that I think I had better start trying to dump.

I think it's going to be hard. I have already found myself having to recast sentences to avoid being negative!

[dreamflower]

Well, my original thought was "I'm going to give up snark", because I do have a tendency to try and be clever sometimes at others' expense. And then I realized it's not just that. I want to get a handle on some of the fear and anger that have bothered me more than I realized until the service tonight, probably ever since Hurricane Katrina. I think it's beginning to take a toll on me.

So, generally, I'm going to try and be positive in my statements as much as possible, but I also want to try and face down some other negative aspects of my personality, that interfere with my spiritual journey.

[dreamflower]

Well, I don't know, but if you can think up a plausible reason for such a practice, I think that sounds like fun!

[lindelea1.livejournal.com]

not a clue.

(and apologies for talking about hobbits when you were talking about serious RL stuff... somehow after posting I got to thinking and felt as if I'd put a foot wrong.)

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Argh! This year Lent has completely passed me by and I didn't even think about if there was an Ash Wednesday mass yesterday. I used to go to church a lot during Lent and I've given up a variety of things for it - like meat, sugary things, watching TV etc. I almost managed to keep it with the giving up on sugar but in the end we compromised so it didn't work. Maybe I should try again with something this year. I could definitely do with not being so negative and pessimistic as I usually am.

(((hugs)))

I'm glad you're feeling better.

[dreamflower]

Please don't apologize for bringing up hobbits; they are a part and parcel of all of this. I get some of my most profound real life insights about things by thinking about hobbits.

If I could be as steadfast as Sam, as positive as Pippin, as loyal as Merry, and as selfless as Frodo, I would be a lot further down the road to becoming the kind of person I ought to be.

(((hugs)))

[dreamflower]

(((hugs back)))

I've never tried giving up the traditional things like meat or chocolate. But I think it's a good time of year to examine my attitudes.

[elandulin.livejournal.com]

Hard to imagine you being negative, Barbara. I always look to you for good cheer!

Some years back, it was suggested at my church that instead of giving up something like chocolate for Lent, we work at doing something proactive--being more compassionate, listening harder, volunteering, being more aware of our responses to everyday frustrations and adjusting them accordingly. Truthfully, it's easier to give up chocolate, but it is a fine exercise in humility.

The world is too busy. There was a time when you HAD time to mull these things over at the end of the day. Now, not so much.

[dreamflower]

The world is too busy. There was a time when you HAD time to mull these things over at the end of the day. Now, not so much.

It's what we need to do, and Lent seems as good an occasion as any to make the attempt! ((((hugs))))

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

I think you can :) We all have our good and bad sides, but coming in terms with this, gaining that knowledge when you can handle things better or knowing when to walk away... you know? I am glad that you guys went and this in a way was a nudge to 'better' yourself (we're all a work in progress in a way!). But you know, I like & love you for who you are, even when you have a bad day where the negativity doesn't want to leave.