Ash Wednesday and Lent

Happy Wednesday folks!  Happy Ash Wednesday to be exact!  I am not Catholic...or Baptist or Methodist or...  What I am is an imperfect child of God.  I am imperfect in many ways...I sin daily.  But He loves me anyway. He is quick to forgive me when I fail and sincerely repent.  And trust me...I fail a lot.  (and if you are sitting there reading this thinking how wonderful and amazing you are and how you never ever sin you might want to repent for lying to yourself because you just did.)  When I was in college I celebrated the season of Lent for the first time.  I didn't observe it for many years after that (I got caught up in life) but last year my husband and I each gave up something or things in observance.  Up until that year in college I didn't even know Lent existed, much less what it was.  I had to take a Christian Beliefs class as a general education requirement for the college I went to and believe me when I tell you that I learned a lot.  I also discovered that I like many aspects of many religions and I incorporate the ones I like into my life.  Yes, I attend church (not as often as I should but...).  I enjoy church.  However, I do not like to label myself as one specific religion...as I said before, I am only an imperfect child of God trying to make it through this life one day at a time.  I practice what feels right and I incorporate those practices and beliefs that make sense to me into my life.  Lent is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the idea of it.  I love the newness and rededication it brings.  I love the cleansing.  For Lent I (personally) give up something or things (depending on the year) that I feel I've become almost attached to.  I give up that which I feel is polluting me.  I give it up starting the day after Ash Wednesday and I do not indulge in what I've given up until Easter Sunday (which happens to be one of my favorite days!).  This year I have decided to give up fast food and sweets.  Yes...I am a fitness lover.  Yes...I try not to eat too crappy most of the time.  BUT...fast food and sweets still creep in from time to time (more often than they should) and lately it seems they show up more and more and I find myself reaching for them.  I feel like it's getting a bit much...time to de pollute (yes, you read that right...I made up a new word...again).  So...for this season of Lent I am throwing out fast food and sweets.  Best believe on Easter I will tear up a Reese's Egg and a Cadbury Egg (LOVE them!).  So...how about you...do you observe the season of Lent?  If not, why not try it this year?  And if so, what are you eliminating from your life for the next 40 days?  Happy Wednesday...if you stretch really far and peak around the corner you can see Friday!