Lenten Fast
Well I have been silent on the thing I really "gave up" for Lent. So this is a real Blog! In the traditional Blog sense, this is a diary, opinion driven, entry: enjoy.
It began with the idea that I have never been able to do this ever and that this might be something to remind me of Christ's sacrifice more than giving up meat, which I have often done in the past.
After 42 years, 25 of which I might have been able to do this, I have never grown a beard. About 4 times I have reached the 10 day mark and then I shave, not able to handle the annoyance. It has always been a great desire to do but the questions... "broke your shaver?", "why are you not shaving?", "you look scruffy today" etc... were too much to deal with especially when I became a cleric. Being in the public eye with many having opinions of what a cleric should and shouldn't do is just not worth the effort to explain.
The real questions I had were could I justify this as a Lenten fast given that I had always wondered what it would be like. Also when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's many clerics had beards... all looking very apostolic. Maybe this was an attempt to be a "proper minister" beard and all. I'm not a big fan of shaving, preferring to shave every other day. I find it a pain and I personally don't mind the unshaven day or two look. Once again, but in my vocation it is frowned upon to go unshaven except if you plan on going all the way: and I have never been prepared to go all the way. I have simply known that I was going to shave by day 10, why? Because the itch drives me to distraction. My thought, at the end of the day, was lets just do it along with other things I have done for Lent and see if it keeps me thinking of Christ's Sacrifice.
It's week 4+ a few days added given Ash Wednesday, and I can tell you that this has been one of the best things I have ever sacrificed for Lent. Not a moment goes by without me thinking of this darn beard /itch /itch /itch .
It began quite easily with the first week being a non issue, by day 10, as usual, I started to scratch. Every day, and increasingly, since then I have thought of shaving often moment by moment, and I'm not exaggerating. I can't stand the itching. When I go to sleep I feel like my face is a pin cushion when I hit the pillow. Sleeping? What sleep! It's hot too so the added distraction of the needle effect makes it quite a miserable experience. The worst moments might have been when I got the flu and my nose started to run: Oh my gosh! And forget eating, I'm constantly in a state worrying that I might have some chunk buried disgustingly in the beard. I obsessively rub my nose now for the same reason. YUCK!!!! The itch though is the worst and keeps me mindful of the why Lent is a time of sacrifice.
And maybe that is why I think this is the best thing I have ever given up. I want to shave. I must say I'm "desperate" to shave. This is not vanity driven, this is annoying (kind of like this rant of mine). I want to cheat, I want to shave. I want to shave about 10 times a day now: seriously! I also know that everyone would know I didn't make it. And the Sunday feast day argument doesn't count with this one.
So when you see me thinking that this is some weak excuse for a Lenten observance, know that it is not... not at least for me.
It began with the idea that I have never been able to do this ever and that this might be something to remind me of Christ's sacrifice more than giving up meat, which I have often done in the past.
After 42 years, 25 of which I might have been able to do this, I have never grown a beard. About 4 times I have reached the 10 day mark and then I shave, not able to handle the annoyance. It has always been a great desire to do but the questions... "broke your shaver?", "why are you not shaving?", "you look scruffy today" etc... were too much to deal with especially when I became a cleric. Being in the public eye with many having opinions of what a cleric should and shouldn't do is just not worth the effort to explain.
The real questions I had were could I justify this as a Lenten fast given that I had always wondered what it would be like. Also when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's many clerics had beards... all looking very apostolic. Maybe this was an attempt to be a "proper minister" beard and all. I'm not a big fan of shaving, preferring to shave every other day. I find it a pain and I personally don't mind the unshaven day or two look. Once again, but in my vocation it is frowned upon to go unshaven except if you plan on going all the way: and I have never been prepared to go all the way. I have simply known that I was going to shave by day 10, why? Because the itch drives me to distraction. My thought, at the end of the day, was lets just do it along with other things I have done for Lent and see if it keeps me thinking of Christ's Sacrifice.
It's week 4+ a few days added given Ash Wednesday, and I can tell you that this has been one of the best things I have ever sacrificed for Lent. Not a moment goes by without me thinking of this darn beard /itch /itch /itch .
It began quite easily with the first week being a non issue, by day 10, as usual, I started to scratch. Every day, and increasingly, since then I have thought of shaving often moment by moment, and I'm not exaggerating. I can't stand the itching. When I go to sleep I feel like my face is a pin cushion when I hit the pillow. Sleeping? What sleep! It's hot too so the added distraction of the needle effect makes it quite a miserable experience. The worst moments might have been when I got the flu and my nose started to run: Oh my gosh! And forget eating, I'm constantly in a state worrying that I might have some chunk buried disgustingly in the beard. I obsessively rub my nose now for the same reason. YUCK!!!! The itch though is the worst and keeps me mindful of the why Lent is a time of sacrifice.
And maybe that is why I think this is the best thing I have ever given up. I want to shave. I must say I'm "desperate" to shave. This is not vanity driven, this is annoying (kind of like this rant of mine). I want to cheat, I want to shave. I want to shave about 10 times a day now: seriously! I also know that everyone would know I didn't make it. And the Sunday feast day argument doesn't count with this one.
So when you see me thinking that this is some weak excuse for a Lenten observance, know that it is not... not at least for me.
5 Comments:
Is it Sherry's sacrifice as well? LOL :)
She will need a Tell All Blog to respond to that question. I refrain to answer as it might incriminate me.
/itch
/scratch
We are to sacrifice in silence,for Lent. This came from a sermon I heard recently.
Allison
Wow, you have a silly priest :-p
Yes I thought it would bite me when I was keying this blog in... it just shows how much it is driving me nuts.
In my deffence this is also a way to remind us of what a lenten fast is about though the sharing of experience... thats my story and im sticking to it until the next sermon: "Do as I say and not as I do"
Excellent idea. When I think of a fast, I always think what would cause me to have more time to reflect and pray? If you were constantly reminded of the annoyance of facial hair, I presume it would remind you to petition God.
I once fasted the internet. I had alot more time to pray and meditate.
Kelly
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