An Alternative View of Lent

My dad sent this to me today and I thought it was wonderful! The only thing I have "given up" this Lenten season is a parenting messaging board, which I don't know that giving that up really gets to the true meaning of Lent. I've been thinking about that. One of the stories told last night at Ash Wednesday services was about a friend of the pastor's who decided to give up Starbucks. And when he realized how much money he would save, he decided he could buy an iPad after Easter. So, is he giving up Starbucks for Lent or for the iPad?

So this is from Rev. Janet Kirkland Stark, Melrose Institute at Park Nicollet.

Today, thousands are celebrating the worldwide Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday -- a day of decadence prior to Ash Wednesday...the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. I am struck by the dichotomy in these two days. It reminds me a bit of all or nothing/black and white thinking: be completely bad and then you will have to petition for the next 40 days to get out of jail free. Although a bit irreverent and extreme...we work with a population that lives on the edges of extreme.

Lent is known as a scared time within the liturgical year of the Christian tradition where one participates in both personal and corporate "spiritual spring cleaning." The 40 days of Lent symbolize Jesus' wilderness journey: who he was, what he taught and what gifts his life, death and resurrection brought to people. Christians practice Lent thru spiritual fasting, prayer and charity. The purpose of fasting or letting something go is to awaken our spiritual hunger or need for God. Prayer focuses our hearts, minds and spirits on our connection to God. Charity is the practice of filling the empty space of what was "let go" with something that brings greater life and spirit.

Most religions have some form of this practice; all with the intention of awakening humanity to our spiritual selves. And like any spiritual practice, it can be harmful when not understood. People end up trading in their self and soul for a false ideal.

As I prepare to create time for people to participate in Ash Wednesday reflection, I find myself afraid. Afraid because our patients already live a lief of lent, living in the wilderness of their extremes. Their hunger and thirst is not just physical and mental ... it is spiritual as well. They long for a sustaining love and connection that meets them in the deepest part of their being, their soul, and says ... You are loved; you are enough; just as you are. letting go of something may only reinforced ED's black and white thinking and their sense of shame for having a disease.

As an alternative, I offer an updated version of Lent for you and your patients. Do something intentional to remind yourself that you are a spiritual being...making space for something else...

• Let go of worry...send blessing to the person or situation instead
• Let of go the need to be busy in every minute...set aside one minute to just breathe.
• Let go of the noise in the morning...drive to work with your radio off
• Let go of one TV program...think of something playful or creative and do it
• Let go of one unrealistic expectation...identify what is real and practice living it
• Let go of needing to KNOW ... be curious...

and wait to be surprised by a stretcher of grace that will find you.

Day 271

Life is speeding by. My little go go go girl will be 9 months old in 2 days. She has a tooth; she claps her hands; she does "So Big" almost on command. She loves to wrestle with Maggie and loves even more to watch Maggie giggle and laugh. She really really wants to walk and I think she will be very very soon. She love the dogs and squeals at the site of them. She is such a happy baby. I won't be able to say that much longer. In a short 94 days, we will have a pre-toddler (in daycare terms) on our hands.

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Just a typical evening in the Dailey household.

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Happy Valentine's Day

Nothing says Valentine's like love between sisters! I'm so happy Maggie and Jessie enjoy each other so much. I know there will come a time that Maggie will find her little sister annoying and Jessie may find her big sister, well, whatever it is little sisters find big sisters. But we will always be able to look back on these days and remember the laughter and smiles at the mere sight of the other.

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A visit to the Eye Doctor, in Maggie’s words

“Well, they checked my eyes if they are healthy.  Well, I didn’t need any glasses. I had to read something. I had to read, I have to see cake, a motorcycle, what else? Hmmm.  I got it!  Hmm, I got one more!  A hand! And a bird!  I have to cover an eye, but the first one, my mom has to cover my eyes, but just one eye. First this eye then the other eye.  Then, I have to check if they are good or not good in the other room. He put drops in my eye.  It feels a little itchy.  Well, they do help my eyes.  And what else do they help? They help the doctor see behind my eye.  We went to McDonalds after the eye doctor.

He did it first.  Cover my eyes.  I get to do it too.  I sit in a big chair. I make how the Es were and they were different.  They were some normal.  They were some upside down!  I mean they were some on the back and also on the threes they kinda look like an E upside down.  Then it was over.”

 

 

Maggie did a very good job at the eye doctor!  He said her eyes are very healthy, with a slight astigmatism in each eye, which could indicate a need for glasses in the future.  He said she doesn’t need to come back for a couple years unless we notice she’s having some problems.  She was disappointed the other day when we told her she probably wouldn’t get glasses today, but didn’t even mention it today.

Groundhog Day!

Maggie had homework last night: to find out whether or not the Groundhog saw his shadow this morning. When she got up, Rocky took her downstairs to check on the computer. She happily ran upstairs to tell me the Groundhog didn't see his shadow and "that means spring is just around the corner!" As we were driving to daycare and work, she told us "When the sun comes out, it will melt all the snow to water. drip drip drip."

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