Yesterday was clean monday. For the Eastern Orthodox types that is when they start their 40 days of Lent. I’ve sort of ended up combining the two types for this years Lent. By choosing to do 40 straight days, instead of 6 days on 1 day off, and by wanting to complete Lent with my fellow westerners, I have re-started my Lent today.
 
If you do the math you will see that by starting on ash wednesday and having 46 days of Lent it would end on Easter saturday. As for starting on clean monday and only having 40 days of Lent you end on Easter friday. I’m starting the day after clean monday and finishing on Easter saturday.

I enjoyed today. The 40 days of Lent is seen two different ways. The first, being a more evangelical approach, starts on ash wednesday and doesn’t include any of the sundays. The more conventional way is the second one. This Lent starts after clean monday and includes all of the sundays. Both versions have a duration of 40 days, although the first one permits 1 “day off” every week.
 
The Lent “practiced” by my church is the first one. It hardly seems like a sacrifice at all. People become so busy throughout the week that what they have given up just becomes daily routine. Once sunday arrives, a day where it would actually take some sacrifice, you’re allowed to stop sacrificing. This rings false to me.
 
I took a break today from my sacrifices. It felt wrong. For the next 41 days I will be sacrificing.

I know this is a day late but I got home fairly late last night and decided it could wait.
 
Yesterday went well, I got a lot accomplished. Did laundry, went to school to download an assignment that is due tomorrow and spent several hours doing homework. To finish off the day I went sleding with a few friends followed by poker (not for cash).
 
Other than that, everything was all according to plan. Still need that giving thing though.

Another fine day. Worked on a fair bit of homework today. I’m starting to get into the swing of things. It’s a whole different lifestyle, not having my typical distractions as an option. Something that I always end up enjoying. This way I actually feel like I accomplished something throughout the day.

I did splurge today. Once I got home I collected the last of my quarters and bought a bag of chips. I had a craving. Regretted it not to long after though. I have a hard time stopping once I start.

Everything else went well, I’ve been reading a lot more which I like. Listening to music more. It is kinda hard to believe, thinking of how much I used to listen to music, but still I have begun to listen to more. I’m probably going to get sick of my music soon.

Here I go again. Reading, praying and bedding, um… maybe just bed.

Today was still all in all pretty easy. I had a brief moment where I was sick of homework and wanted to watch tv or something but it passed. Tuesday and Thursdays are especially difficult because I only have one class in the morning. There is nothing for me to do for the rest of the day except study.

A friend came and took me away from the agony of homework for the afternoon. I never spent a dime. She wanted to buy me supper which actually means that I was the one receiving and not the one giving. The giving part is going to be harder than I imagined.

Either way, I’ve met all of the other objectives and am going to finish off the day with a little reading.

Everything went well. Obviously. It was the first day, I mean come on.

All of that aside, anticipation and preparation would be the two words to describe the day. I did a little research online (I say “a little” because I didn’t get much past wikipedia) and kept this task close to my thoughts. Prayed a little. Read a few chapters from Romans (they met me where I am). Can’t say that I gave anything.

On the other side, I didn’t touch the TV, didn’t even go near alcohol (this has never been a problem, it just seemed fitting) nor did I spend extravagantly. I did buy a coffee after about 3 hours of torture but I insist it was an investment. It kept me awake during class which I definitely would have otherwise slept through.

All in all, it was a good first day.

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