Hey Danny, yeah… that’s really cool and I’d have to say it was inspirational too to read it. It’s so easy to become dogmatic about spiritual issues and such.

That was Sara.

oh, doh. sorry Danny and thank you Sara. =)

that was a great top 5. i admit that i was pretty lame in my observation of lent this year. after reading about your experience, i wish i had done the daily prayers. when we observe advent i feel much of what you talked about in your lent experience. when christmas finally comes i feel i’ve been preparing for it and it is so much more meaningful. next year i’ll give up something that will be more of a sacrifice - and i liked your idea about praying whenever you missed what you gave up. when i thought about watching tv, i just thought, “oh darn, i gave that up for lent,” rather than reminding myself what the sacrifice was all about. thanks for sharing all of this.

Great post. I’m glad it was such a good lent/easter for you. This is why I like the church year so much. It kind of allows me to live my life in sync with other belivers, now and for the past 2000 years, and in a way that constantly reminds us of our story, living in that story every day.

I’m thinking a sunday school class with the church year as an outline to some bible and church history study would be interesting.

Another Lenten season is almost upon us and Christians around the world, mainly from the Orthodox denomination/s, are packing their coffee, mars bars and other minor indulgences away for another 40 plus days. The sacrifice, if you can call it a sacrifice, does rather pale into insignificance compared with Christ’s 40 days in the desert — that’s desert and not dessert.

Perhaps Lent has some meaningful lessons for the fashion world too? What if some of the major Fashion Brands gave up exploiting third world labour for 40 days and insisted on fair wages for works during this 6 week amnesty? What if the guilty Fashion Houses (we all know who they are) reflected on the barbarity of the fur trade for 40 days - perhaps their suppressed spirit of compassion would see the light of day? What if the fashion trade gave up production methods that harm the environment and during the 40 days held collective workshops seeking environmentally-friendly alternatives? …And us, the consumer, what if we gave up a piece of designer clothing in our wardrobe and donate it to charity and agreed to buy only ethically and environmentally conducive clothing during Lent. What if? What if? What if?

It’s not all doom, gloom and cynicism — the fashion world can take heart from a growing number of ethically and environmentally responsible brands: KOhZO, Loomstate, Edun, Coexist and Stella McCartney amongst others.

Even icons of consumerism and their devotees should turn to the sacred for at least 40 days each year.

Is this an offtopic rant or amazingly targeted spam? Either way, you’re missing the point of Lent. It’s not about pointing out other people’s faults.

It’s not about pointing out other people’s faults.

I thought that is what Christians were to do as a primary function.

I just read this post for the first time, Sara…and I really appreciated it. I relate with alot of your postings…this one inparticular struck a cord with me. Giving up something for lent is a lot like fasting. I remember when my friend was dying of cancer & I fasted thinking that God would notice my requests more that way than me just praying His will for her. One of the good things that happened through the fasting was the times when I was hungry & it would remind me of His(and my friend’s) suffering & I would pray through the hunger. It’s the acknowledgement of His sacrifice for us, I think. Not that missing a few meals compared….but, what my friend went through…I think maybe that compared more accurately with what Jesus sacrificed for us. It made me feel close to both of them. I think that is the point, and what we strive for. Thanks for the post.

Sara Vick