Lent

Ahh, Ash Wednesday is here again.

This year for Lent, Ryan and I are walking down the same path as last year and giving up alcohol and caffeine, respectively.

We started attending our church, newlife, around this time last year.  The sermon on the Sunday before Lent really resonated with us and what we should "give up."

I honestly don't remember exactly what our pastor said that really clicked with us, but it was something along the lines of: give up the thing(s) that you might run to in a moment of weakness or when things get hard.

Bingo.

For me, caffeine was easy.  And by easy, I mean it was easy to settle on giving up on caffeine.  The actual giving up of the caffeine was not so easy.  But caffeine (foo-foo coffee drinks and Sugarfree Red Bulls!) is something that I generally want, even when I don't need it.  There's nothing better than a hot cup of vanilla latte on a Saturday and Sunday morning. 

After some thought, Ryan decided to give up alcohol.  When I said that our pastor encouraged us to give up something that we use/need in a time of weakness or hardship, I certainly don't want everyone to think that Ryan's life in consumed by alcohol... Because it most certainly is not.  However, he (like most men, I'm sure!) comes home from work and says, "I need a beer."  Enough said.

So, Tuesday morning I told my favorite barista that she wouldn't be seeing my sleepy eyes for 40 days or so.  She understood.

Wish us luck on this endeavor.  I know that we can get it done through support of each other and a little self-reflection.

Are you giving up anything for Lent?

Take Luck,

LP