tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post6022770166363454520..comments2024-03-28T18:12:44.319-04:00Comments on Sparrow Tree Journal: LentJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-6603516943042486462019-03-09T23:19:54.807-05:002019-03-09T23:19:54.807-05:00Ah! I understand. On a similar note I often fall v...Ah! I understand. On a similar note I often fall victim to thinking I post a comment but it never appears. I guess I get distracted and never actually publish.<br /><br />The salvation army does, indeed, have serviceskyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17733888108530605722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-48846953612183672642019-03-09T03:49:58.737-05:002019-03-09T03:49:58.737-05:00It's nice to have some food restrictions this ...It's nice to have some food restrictions this time of year to balance out all of the holiday eating! Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-71601590328771963802019-03-09T03:47:09.790-05:002019-03-09T03:47:09.790-05:00No white lies??! For seven weeks? That sounds diff...No white lies??! For seven weeks? That sounds difficult. Of course regular lies wouldn't be too hard to refrain from, though. <br /><br />Who decides on each years' theme?Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-4981786068942658282019-03-09T03:44:03.202-05:002019-03-09T03:44:03.202-05:00Hi Kylie! No, of course not! I realized I missed a...Hi Kylie! No, of course not! I realized I missed answering a couple of comments last night and haven't had a chance to get back. I'm sorry! <br /><br />I don't know much about the Salvation Army so thank you for your comment. When you say it is your church, do you mean that there are actual services held? I've never heard of that. I like the idea of self denial and donating the money saved to the less fortunate. Most of us have so very much--too much.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-39724601423127758222019-03-08T15:36:19.820-05:002019-03-08T15:36:19.820-05:00Did I say something offensive? Did I say something offensive? kyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17733888108530605722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-42258067099504135292019-03-08T08:52:22.772-05:002019-03-08T08:52:22.772-05:00I can definitely see the value in stepping back an...I can definitely see the value in stepping back and evaluating our lives to see where we can trim excess -- whether that's excess in what we eat or spend or how we behave. To me that is an essential process, and one that needn't be confined to any particular time of year. But I suppose scheduling it for once a year ensures that it gets done!Steve Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-82119061210374039422019-03-08T06:53:29.456-05:002019-03-08T06:53:29.456-05:00You're right, Joanne. As soon as I finish thes...You're right, Joanne. As soon as I finish these few weeks of getting back into the swing of things, I plan to be serious about these last 35 pounds. Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be back to a weight that makes me feel better about myself.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-69777731852486904232019-03-08T06:51:56.319-05:002019-03-08T06:51:56.319-05:00Hehehe! Uh huh, me too!Hehehe! Uh huh, me too!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-43845299616948872502019-03-08T06:51:37.411-05:002019-03-08T06:51:37.411-05:00Funny, I was just thinking about my yellow bike! I...Funny, I was just thinking about my yellow bike! I need to get it out, dust it off, put air in the tires, and go for a ride. :)Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-17961914815988827282019-03-08T06:51:01.077-05:002019-03-08T06:51:01.077-05:00I'm far more interested in the "pagan&quo...I'm far more interested in the "pagan" version of Lent, to be honest. The Christian god who loves watching humans suffer (including his own son!) leaves me cold. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-63590503009680997542019-03-07T22:18:24.825-05:002019-03-07T22:18:24.825-05:00I don't get the whole obsession with chocolate...I don't get the whole obsession with chocolate either, Tom. I mean, I like it fine but not to the point that it would be a huge sacrifice to not eat it for a few weeks!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-35862721676206184482019-03-07T22:15:09.829-05:002019-03-07T22:15:09.829-05:00I can always count on you, Cro! ;)I can always count on you, Cro! ;)Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-59712907031047248912019-03-07T22:14:35.752-05:002019-03-07T22:14:35.752-05:00I've never practiced any religion. I consider ...I've never practiced any religion. I consider myself a humanist, too. I like your take on all of this, thank you for the comment. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-38204309869195255052019-03-07T22:12:50.720-05:002019-03-07T22:12:50.720-05:00The connection to the natural world is my favorite...The connection to the natural world is my favorite part of the article. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-55078558972448532222019-03-07T22:12:01.153-05:002019-03-07T22:12:01.153-05:00That's what I like about you, Anne Marie!That's what I like about you, Anne Marie!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-71164365744915317722019-03-07T19:44:59.538-05:002019-03-07T19:44:59.538-05:00I think you should get back to the next 35 pounds ...I think you should get back to the next 35 pounds as soon as possible. I espouse a life with discipline and purpose, much as I have lost mine of late. Discipline especially. Some days I have it, most I don't. Joanne Noragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16601010208310707750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-45266121130731444342019-03-07T15:17:25.032-05:002019-03-07T15:17:25.032-05:00I'm always so disciplined in my daily life tha...I'm always so disciplined in my daily life that I don't need to do anything special at other times (and I have a bridge I'd like to sell).Moving with Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954028272162285597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-17377674759624466872019-03-07T13:33:43.605-05:002019-03-07T13:33:43.605-05:00Your approach to losing weight in 2018 was eminent...Your approach to losing weight in 2018 was eminently sensible. You could get your yellow bicycle out again and cover a few miles each week - without the dogs!Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-84121363356789754142019-03-07T08:16:00.244-05:002019-03-07T08:16:00.244-05:00I have mixed feelings about this topic. Seems like...I have mixed feelings about this topic. Seems like most religions claim their gods enjoy the prospect of human suffering if it is done in their name. The more we suffer, the closer we are to our gods. Since no religion can claim that their god actually answers prayers to alleviate suffering, they tell us that we should find meaning in it, that this is why the god actually "allows" suffering. I see it all as an example of tortured reasoning. Lent is sort of a personal mini sacrifice to the Catholic god. We don't burn lambs on altars to please our god anymore but we can still please him with the giving up of a pleasure. <br />I see what you doing as a strengthening for yourself, though. And as such, I think it's a lovely idea. I have never even considered "giving up" anything for Lent and you aren't giving up anything either. You are merely making a change which will, in the end, make you stronger, happier, and healthier. This I totally approve of and if I wasn't such a lazy ass I might do something similar. Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-1888012315375635602019-03-07T05:41:02.250-05:002019-03-07T05:41:02.250-05:00I laugh at people who give up chocolate for Lent. ...I laugh at people who give up chocolate for Lent. Maybe I am being a bit harsh. I suppose some people may be addicted to it.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-45966227439065944982019-03-07T02:08:41.772-05:002019-03-07T02:08:41.772-05:00I've never been Catholic but was raised mildly...I've never been Catholic but was raised mildly Protestant/Evangelical, attending children's services at church every now and then, having my Confirmation at 14 and joining the church choir for a few years before Librarian School took me out of town every other month for four weeks.<br />The evangelical/protestant churches here give out a motto for lent every year, it starts with the words "Sieben Wochen ohne..." which means "Seven Weeks Without...", followed this year by "Lies". Seven weeks not telling any lies (not even white ones) or being untruthful in other ways.<br />Last year, I think it was TV, some year it could be alcohol, meat or tobacco.<br />Personally, I do not observe any lent, but generally try to live and eat as balanced as I can without being overly strict or ascetic.Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-78529273326066191352019-03-07T01:13:44.704-05:002019-03-07T01:13:44.704-05:00My church is the Salvation Army and it's not t...My church is the Salvation Army and it's not traditional for us to observe Lent in a "give something up" style but more just as the period leading up to Easter. <br />Being in the Southern Hemisphere may mean Australians have a different relationship to the Lent period.<br /><br />The Salvation Army does have an annual six week event called Self Denial, which asks us to deny ourselves something and donate the money we didn't spend to assist the work of The Salvation Army in developing nations. It coincides roughly with Lent but it might finish a week or two either side of Easter.<br /><br />I do think there is value in some kind of fasting both as a discipline for it's own sake and as a way to focus on our spiritual lifekyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11337612177612358367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-59661210986052880772019-03-07T00:01:45.791-05:002019-03-07T00:01:45.791-05:00No. Sorry, no Lent rituals here either.No. Sorry, no Lent rituals here either.Cro Magnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840670227576695352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-32502493560955659142019-03-06T23:41:24.294-05:002019-03-06T23:41:24.294-05:00I am an ex Catholic also who has moved to a more h...I am an ex Catholic also who has moved to a more humanist belief. Growing up it was expected that we give up something for lent and suffer it up for I don’t know what. When I grew up, I realized that life is hard and we all suffer enough. Giving up is a negative and I thought that it would more productive to do something good and kind for others rather than to do without something trivial. I do like that last sentence though, “conscious engagement of suffering and death forces us to take stock of our gift of life and consider ways of reforming and living our lives more fully and passionately.” Amen.Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06032033918798053005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-29669986431552574602019-03-06T19:06:01.228-05:002019-03-06T19:06:01.228-05:00I am an Episcopalian (Catholic-lite). I don't...I am an Episcopalian (Catholic-lite). I don't really go to church anymore, nor do I give things up for lent. I like how the article you included in your post described the connection that Lent has with the natural world. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12490988837607883653noreply@blogger.com