Abstinence and Breakfasting.

So Lent has begun and people are giving up things, like chocolate, alcohol and sex. What have I given up? Something a lot more difficult for me personally to shake.

Laziness.

Yup. I'm giving up one of my defining character defects. It's paying off but it's a lot of hard work. I'm aggressively hunting down job interviews and pursuing people on what has happened to my applications, I'm going to the gym (after a little convincing from a good friend who offered to pay my gym fees) and I'm creating a plan of attack to tidy my room, which looks like the Somme post-1918.

What I'm really doing is, rather than giving something up, is taking something on. This is a lot more work and effort, and generally harder, but should be more rewarding. I say should because in today's economic/political crisis nothing is promised and it could still result in total nada. But cross fingers it helps.

This post is inspired by the ladies who were talking to each other in the queue at the supermarket today. Most/all of it was so inane and lacking in excitement I came close to tears but I steeled myself to avoid an emotional breakdown in public. Eventually they got talking about Pancake Day (ref: Shrove Tuesday) and one of them realized that meant it was Lent. I mean, as if it were unexpected or unusual for Lent to a) happen b) start of Shrove Tuesday. The other said, "Oh yes, I've given up chocolate.

This was a rather anti-climatic conclusion to the subject - the other woman agreeing that sounded good and she would do the same - and the two moved on from the topic. I was a bit miffed that they had moved on so hastily and basically regarded it as an unimportant chore - I also caught a huge whiff of insincerity about their fasting choices. I mean, while giving up chocolate is all when and good as far as it goes, it doesn't go far. Now, say, giving up desserts and snacking entirely, that's more like fasting. To give a comparison, it would be like me giving up cheese: a minor nuisance that a simple change in my diet and a saving of one British pound would accommodate.

I'm not saying people should try harder, or that they're being disrespectful or ungodly or anything. I think people are just being lazy. That's right, lazy. By giving up something that is a treat anyway they can fool themselves into believing that they have fulfilled some imagined quota or crossed a check box in their lives. It really becomes a laughable practice when you get right down to it, like greeting cards and cheap gimmicky presents at Christmas.

My point is that Lent is a recognized time of year in the Christian calendar. I'm sure if you asked some quietly devout Muslims what they were giving up for Lent they'd possibly be quite offended. It shouldn't be something everyone has to do, shouldn't be commercialized and thereby belittled by making it commonplace. Lent is an important time of year for Christians, or should be. Again, I'm not saying people should try harder. What I'm really saying is people shouldn't try.

Think about it; if you're not Christian, what does it matter to you whether it's Lent or not? Why bother trying? What's the frigging point? Yes, this I am Christian and yes, this does seem to be against the evangelical nature of my faith but why say, "No, I don't care for your religion" and then partake in a religious observance for that religion? I mean, why not go for Ramadan or Hanukkah while you're at it?

Yes, I understand people can do it regardless of their faith but still; why then? Why that time of year? Why not just do it another time? That'd really make an impression on people. It could be said people observing Lent without being part of the faith is a good thing and that they're respecting it. Judging by their choices of fasting, I wouldn't agree with this; in the forty days and forty nights he spent in the desert, it is doubtful Jesus's first desire would have been for something sweet and luxurious like a chocolate bar. It would probably have been something we all take for granted now. Like water.

So this Lent I decided to make a proper effort - I will admit, this allowed me to give up my original resolution of "No Fizzy Drinks" but I'm not upset or embarrassed about that; this way, I'm also being more respectful in my observance of the season. All I'm asking is that this year, make Lent special. Pick something you can really achieve if you put the effort in, and do it. Remember the words of Yoda regarding willpower,

"Do, or do not. There is no try."

This Lent, don't try. Do, or do not.