Unpopular Opinions! 2/19

[Susan0utLoud]

We observe Lent, too. I gave up Facebook.

[lissiehoya]

We're giving up meat for Lent and I'm adding daily prayer.

[aimeefarrahfowler]

I'm a day late but I couldn't remember what I wanted to post yesterday. If you choose to live near train tracks, you don't get to complain about how loud the trains are.

[emmagk]

Feb 20, 2015 6:48:27 GMT -5 aimeefarrahfowler said:

I'm a day late but I couldn't remember what I wanted to post yesterday. If you choose to live near train tracks, you don't get to complain about how loud the trains are.

Yes! I feel the same way about people who buy a house under a flight path next to a major airport and then complain about airport expansion and flight noise.

[becole]

I observe lent but I couldn't decide what to give up or add. Theres so many things for me to choose from.

[ricola0522]

I'm a day late but I will jump in about lent. I don't understand the purpose of Lent. Granted I'm not nor have I ever been Catholic but it just doesn't make sense to me. I don't see how choosing to give up one or more things (generally it seems to be food/drink) is helping?

[becole]

Feb 20, 2015 10:30:16 GMT -5 ricola0522 said:

I'm a day late but I will jump in about lent. I don't understand the purpose of Lent. Granted I'm not nor have I ever been Catholic but it just doesn't make sense to me. I don't see how choosing to give up one or more things (generally it seems to be food/drink) is helping?

I'm not Catholic, but Christian. We are entering into the 40 days prior to Christ's death on the cross. The sacrifice should remind us daily of what Christ gave up for us and the terrible pain and sorrow he went through. It's kinda like a small sacrifice to center ourselves in preparation for Good Friday. Maybe sunny or lissiehoya have a better explanation than mine.

[ricola0522]

becole I should clarify that I understand the intent (what Christ gave up) but how does not drinking soda, not being on FB, etc accomplish that? I don't equate any of those things with what Christ endured.

[sunny]

Feb 20, 2015 10:37:48 GMT -5 becole said:

Feb 20, 2015 10:30:16 GMT -5 ricola0522 said:

I'm a day late but I will jump in about lent. I don't understand the purpose of Lent. Granted I'm not nor have I ever been Catholic but it just doesn't make sense to me. I don't see how choosing to give up one or more things (generally it seems to be food/drink) is helping?

I'm not Catholic, but Christian. We are entering into the 40 days prior to Christ's death on the cross. The sacrifice should remind us daily of what Christ gave up for us and the terrible pain and sorrow he went through. It's kinda like a small sacrifice to center ourselves in preparation for Good Friday. Maybe sunny or lissiehoya have a better explanation than mine.

That's one way to put it, but for me Lent is about discipline. I'm preparing my heart to be able to receive and serve the risen Christ on Easter Sunday. Sometimes I give something up (this year, swearing, lol). But more often I do something extra, like say a prayer or read the Bible every day.

[lissiehoya]

Feb 20, 2015 10:46:39 GMT -5 sunny said:

Feb 20, 2015 10:37:48 GMT -5 becole said:

I'm not Catholic, but Christian. We are entering into the 40 days prior to Christ's death on the cross. The sacrifice should remind us daily of what Christ gave up for us and the terrible pain and sorrow he went through. It's kinda like a small sacrifice to center ourselves in preparation for Good Friday. Maybe sunny or lissiehoya have a better explanation than mine.

That's one way to put it, but for me Lent is about discipline. I'm preparing my heart to be able to receive and serve the risen Christ on Easter Sunday. Sometimes I give something up (this year, swearing, lol). But more often I do something extra, like say a prayer or read the Bible every day.

Yes, and in the Catholic tradition there are 3 aspects to Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. So it's not just supposed to be about giving something up, but adding in prayer and some sort of charity in order to prepare yourself for Easter. It's also a very penitential season and the Catholic Church encourages everyone to go to confession during that time. A lot of people do it on Good Friday.

[lissiehoya]

Also, the 40 days represent the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the desert before he began his ministry.

[becole]

Feb 20, 2015 10:40:54 GMT -5 ricola0522 said:

becole I should clarify that I understand the intent (what Christ gave up) but how does not drinking soda, not being on FB, etc accomplish that? I don't equate any of those things with what Christ endured.

It's about the reminder. Oh, I can't have candy. That stinks. And it's just temporary. Imagine how it would feel to give up your life permanently. It's kinda the same if you've ever fasted. You spend the time you would eat/ think about food in prayer and getting closer to God, feeling more appreciative of Him.

[athn64]

Exactly what becole said. Every time I think about what I'm giving up, it reminds me to pray. I typically do water fasts on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (Couldn't last year of this year, due to pregnancy and BF). Every time I feel hungry, I pray and remember what God does for me.

The penitence aspect is important too.

[scotty138]

becole said it better than I could, but really it is about giving up something that is either a sin or a luxury in order to live closer to Christ and remember what he did for us.

[lissiehoya]

Feb 20, 2015 11:06:31 GMT -5 athn64 said:

Exactly what becole said. Every time I think about what I'm giving up, it reminds me to pray. I typically do water fasts on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (Couldn't last year of this year, due to pregnancy and BF). Every time I feel hungry, I pray and remember what God does for me.

The penitence aspect is important too.

I didn't fast this year or last either due to pregnancy and then BFing. This year I felt guilty about it...

[athn64]

Feb 20, 2015 12:17:15 GMT -5 lissiehoya said:

Feb 20, 2015 11:06:31 GMT -5 athn64 said:

Exactly what becole said. Every time I think about what I'm giving up, it reminds me to pray. I typically do water fasts on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (Couldn't last year of this year, due to pregnancy and BF). Every time I feel hungry, I pray and remember what God does for me.

The penitence aspect is important too.

I didn't fast this year or last either due to pregnancy and then BFing. This year I felt guilty about it...

Love tit in commiseration. I felt guilty too. But we need our nutrients so our babes can get theirs

[ricola0522]

I can kind of understand when explained that way becole but it still seems so inadequate to me.

[becole]

Feb 20, 2015 19:14:54 GMT -5 ricola0522 said:

I can kind of understand when explained that way becole but it still seems so inadequate to me.

There's a lot of people that use it like a diet fad or something but it's supposed to be deeper so I get how it seems trivial. There's no sacrifice we could make that would be adequate considering what Christ went through. But we should try anyway.

[ricola0522]

Very good point becole

[jsquaree]

Feb 19, 2015 12:11:46 GMT -5 becole said:

Let's stop talking about bodies. Did anyone watch the SNL special? There were a few good moments but it was overall pretty blah. I mean why have all these greats together if you're not going to put them together for skits? Taylor Swift was terrible. I actually like Miley's musical performance. Wth was up with Kanye performing on the ground?

This is full of UOs.

Good god I'm behind on here.

I just had to say the Californians sketch was so spot on tho. I died. Literally every conversation with anyone in my family (all in and around L.A.), if they mention a place, it's followed by directions. Like, I don't effing live there, I don't need to know to take the 101 to the 405 and get off on Ventura to get to a FedEx. Wtf.