Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity. For those unfamiliar with lent, in most Christian denominations, it is a forty-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. In that past I have paid little head to this ancient church practice, but today I wish to start by practicing this ancient holiday. Unlike the tradition of giving up meat or food for lent (while I will fast from food, it won't be daily) I will give up the activity of TV watching. David Mcclelland suggested that worldly asceticism is specifically targeted against worldly pleasures that distract people from there calling, and may accept worldly pleasures that are not distracting. To me, the visual media falls into this category, and so to better prepare my heart and mind for the death and resurrection of my Lord, I feel it is only appropriate. Last year I did little to prepare for this event, and the experience was shallow. I believe this year I will take it more to mind and heart. Truthfully, I am not sure I can give it up for 40 days…that's how I know I need to.