Responses to Lenten ritual: give up? or give away

 

          Last week’s blog on giving away stuff during Lent instead of giving up something engendered a flood of responses—all positive. One reader gave a thoughtful answer, which he gave me permission to use

.

             “Pat, As I began to read your piece and took note of the things you were giving away, my thought was "And a partridge in a pear tree." It seemed appropriate as you were naming things to give away.

“However, reading on, I was most amused at the reversal of fortune as you began to collect to overcome the void left by your give away pledge.

“I found it most human in more ways than one. Physically, with the thought of diet, I find myself after a short time (especially if I am successful and lose a pound or two) craving outlandish foods. It may even be foods that I don't eat as a rule, but it seems my body is wanting something to fill the void. I usually sate the desire with carrots. (sometimes eating a pound from the little bags we get at Kroger.)

“Spiritually, when we recognize a sin and put it away, we pick up something else to fill the void. Anyway, I find myself doing that.

“Sorry, couldn't help opining when I saw a lesson here. I always enjoy your writings.”

Signed, Dennis Patton, (a friend, who just happens to be the president of Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas.)
Thanks, Dennis.

 

Many folks give up some favorite food during Lent, but not me. My diets last as long as uninvited company—three days at the most. Then hunger and, as Dennis said, a craving follows. While I have cut celery and smallish carrots (two containers each) in the fridge, some of which I eat daily, it is to ensure I eat veggies along with my (ahem) unhealthy foods. But no kale smoothies, thank you very much, or wheat grass, or blended (by some folks) veggies as a drink. Tomato, V-8, cranberry are my juices of choice, and oranges, apples, grapes and stewed pears are fruits I keep on hand.

Speaking of celery, in one of the books I bought at the Do Drop In in Beebe, “2210 Fascinating Facts,” one of those facts is this:” Celery has negative calories—it takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with.” That’s worth knowing, right?

Moving away from Lent and food, here is a fact appropriate for this month: “The earth rotates on its axis more slowly in March than in September.”

Oh, wait. Let’s go back to the subject we began with. Under the heading, “Food and Drink,” since that’s what lots of folks consider “giving up” for Lent, I was amazed at these facts. (Some of which might have changed in the 33 years since the book was published.)

 

*Cabbage is 91 percent water.

*Lettuce is (was) the world’s most popular green.

*Milk is heavier than cream.

* The average person ingests (-ed) about a ton of food and drink each year.

* In Wilton, Maine, there is (was) a cannery that imports and cans only dandelion greens.

* A hard-boiled egg will spin. An uncooked or soft-boiled egg will not.

All this writing about food has set my stomach to purring this morning.

See you later.

This Lenten season, I'm giving up . . . no, giving away . . .

In liturgical churches, the season of Lent—40 days before Easter—is a time for self-denial, fasting, extra prayer, reflection, deeper consideration for others, a time to stop-and-take-stock- of-one’s-life.

I’m not one for either new year’s resolutions or self-denial. I won’t give up ice cream or Cheetos or caffeine, especially for 40 days. One source said Sundays were exempt from such disciplines. Even that wouldn’t get it for me. But, in the spirit of the season, what else could I do as a "disciple" to participate?

 

On social media (Facebook), I saw what I considered a good idea—at least for myself. Myself-- nearing another birthday ending in "0" ––has been needing to "clean out, clear out and downsize" (for the sake of my heirs, and those who shop at Goodwill for their clothes and other needs).

One post showed a black garbage bag tied with a string and something about "40 days: each day put something in the bag to give away."

That sounded like something I could and would do. I co-opted the idea and devised my own slogan: "40 days, 40 drawers, 40 things to give away."

So I began. Turns out, there were more things I didn’t need than just one. I discovered I could give away three shirts, three scarves, three unused kitchen gadgets, four odd spoons, and so on.

As I write this, ten days into the season, twenty-nine useful-but-not-being-used-by-me items are in the bag. And many more drawers remain to be gone through.

Also, daily readings from, say, Ruth Bell Graham’s "Letters from Ruth’s Attic," a poem or two from "St. Peter’s B-List" (edited by Mary Ann B. Miller), and "Meditations on the Psalms" (Crafton) help me pause and consider other ideas and possibilities.

And then I visited my friend Dot from Beebe. Beebe is rising fast in the "Flea Market of Arkansas" ranks. The "Do Drop In" is my Siren, my Satan, my Delight. I have no discipline when it comes to such. Especially as concerns books and cobalt blue glass.

So I confess to buying five books: "2201 Fascinating Facts" (for use in columns and blogs), an Iris Murdoch tome, a Joan Hess ‘Claire Malloy’ mystery, a Henry James classic and a small Maya Angelou poetry book—all for only $8.50!

I found a set of four Carnival Glass goblets for Christmas and birthday gifts, four small "oatmeal"-glass saucers, a sheep magnet for a sister, and four stemmed goblets of blue glass to add to my "blue room" collection.

Twenty-nine items out going—eighteen items incoming. Oh, dear. I might have to gear up my daily giveaways to four or more.

Our minister’s sermon title last Sunday was, "Why is it so hard?"

I, too, ask, "Why is it so hard to persevere in a ‘good-for-you; good-for-the-world’ regimen of disciplined acts?" And for only forty days?