Another Word for Lent?

I've been observing Lent, now for several years. This year I couldn't think of what to give up. I originally was going to go hardcore. I was going to give up meat and fast during the day. Back about four weeks ago I started an exercise program in which the main focus is muscle building. I've got five week left in the plan.

When I started telling people about my plans for Lent, it soon dawned on me that my original plan wasn't going to work. I couldn't continue to build muscle and not eat meat. And, not eat period! It was going to be way too dangerous, and require a lot of planning that I just didn’t have time or the bandwidth to accomplish.

While talking to Patty on Ash Wednesday, like me she too didn't know what to give up. And, it hit me. It's not just giving things up to give things up. It's about bettering yourself, about making the world better and feeding your spirit. This is strange because lately I’ve been in despair about my spirituality. Perhaps this is the seed.

I told Patty that yes it was a little naive to think I was going to give up meat and food while exercising, but now it's about being healthy, focused, structured and controlled. That is what this Lent is about.

I've given up soda, and "sugar", which means, to me, excess snacking and eating late. I've given up old habits that promote bad diet and an unhealthy lifestyle. I think this will be the hardest forty days. I think I’m looking to save my soul….

I'm focusing on Holy Ghosts, and the future while maintaining a positive yet realistic view on the present. It’s already started.

I don't know why it took me so long, but I recently realized most people aren't smart. Perhaps, it was the election and hearing all these horror stories about families and children from a friend in CPS. I've always believed that most people were smarter than me. But, the more I look around, I see that it's me and my friends and family that are the exception and not the rule.

I am truly blessed.