Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Christian Church. Lent is the time leading up to Easter when the church members are encouraged to take time in reflection and self-examination. Many have made it their tradition to "give up" something during Lent in an act of self-denial. Others, like myself, have used the Lenten time as an opportunity to "take up" a new discipline in an area we find ourselves to be lacking.
Fat Tuesday, which coincides with the end of Mardi Gras, is the last hurrah before the self-deprivation of Lent begins. Many communities used to have pancake dinner on Fat Tuesday. Of course, they did not call it Fat Tuesday as that has such a negative connotation. Mardi Gras attendees, however, probably don't worry about the negative connotation from what I see on Cops: In New Orleans. If they were worried about the negativity, they would have stayed home.
As a child, I had a Catholic friend who gave up chocolate for Lent. I was amazed by her willpower as chocolate is a staple of most childrens' diet. Apparently, she had found a loophole in the Lenten rules, because she ate chocolate on Sundays. The Sundays in Lent are not counted in the 40 days of Lent, so she got a reprieve from the self-deprivation once a week. I don't agree with that philosophy, but I have never given up chocolate for Lent either.
Every Good Friday, our clown team does a remembrance of the Passion week. It is, in my humble opinion, amazing. We work for weeks before Good Friday practicing to capture the emotions and sacrifice of that special time. This year, we are completely redoing our Passion Remembrance with new music, new scenes, more scripture study and more crowd interaction. In the past, I have played Jesus for this Passion Remembrance. Part of the Remembrance finds Jesus being lifted up on the cross by the guards. It wasn't until I was being prepared to be lifted up in our practices that I gave thought to how much of me needed to be lifted. I'm not obese, but I'm not petite and it gave new meaning to my love for sweets. If I eat this, they are going to have to lift it.
Lent finds me back on "Jesus training." When I look at a menu, I wonder, "What would Jesus eat?". I really think that Jesus would have eaten a beautiful patty of angus beef nestled ever so cozily under a slice of cheddar with a side of crunchy potatoe wedges. God would not have given us dominion over the animals if did not mean for us to roast them over a fire!
As you enjoy Fat Tuesday, keep in mind that Lent is a journey that, with some effort on our parts, can make the Easter joy even sweeter. Oh, sweeter -- like chocolate!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Plugged In and Turned On
This morning, I was visited by two very special people. They were strangers to me until this morning, and we will probably never bump into each other again. However, the time they spent in my home will be remembered for a very long time! Who were they? The satellite television installation technicians.
I made the leap from cable television to a satellite dish for one compelling reason -- it was cheaper! Bundling my services gives me a giant discount on a service that, in my opinion, is highly overpriced. I don't watch a lot of television. I am not home much in the evenings and the weekends are spent in worship, rest and catching up from the week. Living alone, I like to have some noise in the background and the radio just isn't the same.
I parted ways with the cable company early in January as a promise of an early installation date deluded me into believing I would have a dish on my roof in mere days. Alas, the installation appointment was postponed until March due to, what the lady at the call center called "weather" in our area. I informed her that the weather she was referring to was called "winter" and it could last a good long time yet. I've been on a television fast ever since. I'm also without internet at home at the moment and feel completely cut off from the outside world at times. Is it going to snow? Probably. Look out the window. Who won the game last night? One of the two teams playing.
I had to invite myself over to someone else's house on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the game. No complaints from the hosts as they are good friends and too polite. Following the rules of guest spectators, I tried to refrain from yelling my instructions to the players on the field from their couch.
Yesterday at five o'clock, just as I was packing up to leave work, the technicians called to tell me they were going to be in the area tomorrow. If I was willing, they would do my installation two weeks early. Willing? I would make them breakfast if they wanted!
Two strapping young men showed up this morning dressed for cold weather. They didn't even seem put off by my 100 pound puppy greeting them in her tradition manner which is rolling over on her back and waiting for a belly rub. The technicians set off with ladder in hand to scale the house and mount the dish on my roof. Two hours later, I was presented with a remote control that looks like something out of Star Trek. The gentleman patiently explained how to use the remote control. He lost me after "now you push the power button....". I am pretty sure that I can reprogram the satellites in orbit to dance a chorus line if I can figure out which buttons to push.The other gentleman, a trainee I learned, showed me pictures of his dogs from his cell phone.
After they left, I set to turning off the television and getting ready to leave for work. I felt a little sadness as I hit the power button. Wednesday is church night for me and I will not arrive at home until about 9 p.m. Exploring the universe with my trusty remote will have to wait until tonight. For a while, the world is safe until I start channel surfing.
I made the leap from cable television to a satellite dish for one compelling reason -- it was cheaper! Bundling my services gives me a giant discount on a service that, in my opinion, is highly overpriced. I don't watch a lot of television. I am not home much in the evenings and the weekends are spent in worship, rest and catching up from the week. Living alone, I like to have some noise in the background and the radio just isn't the same.
I parted ways with the cable company early in January as a promise of an early installation date deluded me into believing I would have a dish on my roof in mere days. Alas, the installation appointment was postponed until March due to, what the lady at the call center called "weather" in our area. I informed her that the weather she was referring to was called "winter" and it could last a good long time yet. I've been on a television fast ever since. I'm also without internet at home at the moment and feel completely cut off from the outside world at times. Is it going to snow? Probably. Look out the window. Who won the game last night? One of the two teams playing.
I had to invite myself over to someone else's house on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the game. No complaints from the hosts as they are good friends and too polite. Following the rules of guest spectators, I tried to refrain from yelling my instructions to the players on the field from their couch.
Yesterday at five o'clock, just as I was packing up to leave work, the technicians called to tell me they were going to be in the area tomorrow. If I was willing, they would do my installation two weeks early. Willing? I would make them breakfast if they wanted!
Two strapping young men showed up this morning dressed for cold weather. They didn't even seem put off by my 100 pound puppy greeting them in her tradition manner which is rolling over on her back and waiting for a belly rub. The technicians set off with ladder in hand to scale the house and mount the dish on my roof. Two hours later, I was presented with a remote control that looks like something out of Star Trek. The gentleman patiently explained how to use the remote control. He lost me after "now you push the power button....". I am pretty sure that I can reprogram the satellites in orbit to dance a chorus line if I can figure out which buttons to push.The other gentleman, a trainee I learned, showed me pictures of his dogs from his cell phone.
After they left, I set to turning off the television and getting ready to leave for work. I felt a little sadness as I hit the power button. Wednesday is church night for me and I will not arrive at home until about 9 p.m. Exploring the universe with my trusty remote will have to wait until tonight. For a while, the world is safe until I start channel surfing.
Monday, February 2, 2009
My Favorite Part of the Super Bowl
I spent my Super Bowl yesterday at a friends' house, perched on a comfy couch calling the plays the boys on the field. It must have been effective, as the Steelers snatched a most triumphant victory from the hands and hearts of the Arizona Cardinals. It was a very exciting game, made even better by the fact that I was the only Steeler's fan on the premises. I did display my sportsmanship by not saying "I told you so" at the end of the evening.
I used to live in Wisconsin were being a Packer's fan was a state law and the most popular religion. Many people bowed to St. Favre, wearing their green and gold to church so they wouldn't have to waste time changing when they got to the game watching desination. Occasionally, our pastor's yellow "G" would peek out from under his white robes when he stepped in to the pulpit. It was in Wisconsin that I learned the art of adoring your football team. This was in the mid to late '90's when the Packers were undefeated at home and the football players would leap into the crowd when they scored a touch down. We loved our Pack!
I soon found out why so many people loved football - the food. It gives you yet one more reason to eat stuff that isn't good for you, but tastes amazing -- wings, pizza, little weinies in BBQ sauce and for some, beer by the barrel!
The year the Packers won the Super Bowl, we were feasting on subs and shrimp. We did get a chance to catch a few minutes of the game in between trips to the buffet, while our cheeseheads were firmly fastened to our heads.
I have been to some amazing Super Bowl parties with dips to die for, veggie pizza (a healthy twist, but OK), chili, hot dogs, sandwiches, chicken wings - you name it! I don't remember who played in most of these Super Bowls, but the food was unforgettable.
This year, I invited myself to a friends' house as I am currently without cable while waiting for my satellite to be installed (a subject for another blog!). We started the evening with two different hot crab dips - very good. Sloppy Joes, chips, veggie and dip and a pasta salad followed. All quite exceptional! Dessert was a tribute to our local culture - raspberry kuchen. Scrumptous! I didn't miss any of the game as I would pop into the kitchen during the dreadful commercials to get some chips.
I love that our culture has found yet another event that requires a hefty spread and a cardiologist on call. I guess if your going to have a coronary during a sporting event, it's better to do that eating than collapsing on the field while exerting yourself. The only effort I hope to expend is making my way to the Tums at the end of the evening. Fear not - the bottle has a childproof cap and I will get some exercise trying to it open.
I used to live in Wisconsin were being a Packer's fan was a state law and the most popular religion. Many people bowed to St. Favre, wearing their green and gold to church so they wouldn't have to waste time changing when they got to the game watching desination. Occasionally, our pastor's yellow "G" would peek out from under his white robes when he stepped in to the pulpit. It was in Wisconsin that I learned the art of adoring your football team. This was in the mid to late '90's when the Packers were undefeated at home and the football players would leap into the crowd when they scored a touch down. We loved our Pack!
I soon found out why so many people loved football - the food. It gives you yet one more reason to eat stuff that isn't good for you, but tastes amazing -- wings, pizza, little weinies in BBQ sauce and for some, beer by the barrel!
The year the Packers won the Super Bowl, we were feasting on subs and shrimp. We did get a chance to catch a few minutes of the game in between trips to the buffet, while our cheeseheads were firmly fastened to our heads.
I have been to some amazing Super Bowl parties with dips to die for, veggie pizza (a healthy twist, but OK), chili, hot dogs, sandwiches, chicken wings - you name it! I don't remember who played in most of these Super Bowls, but the food was unforgettable.
This year, I invited myself to a friends' house as I am currently without cable while waiting for my satellite to be installed (a subject for another blog!). We started the evening with two different hot crab dips - very good. Sloppy Joes, chips, veggie and dip and a pasta salad followed. All quite exceptional! Dessert was a tribute to our local culture - raspberry kuchen. Scrumptous! I didn't miss any of the game as I would pop into the kitchen during the dreadful commercials to get some chips.
I love that our culture has found yet another event that requires a hefty spread and a cardiologist on call. I guess if your going to have a coronary during a sporting event, it's better to do that eating than collapsing on the field while exerting yourself. The only effort I hope to expend is making my way to the Tums at the end of the evening. Fear not - the bottle has a childproof cap and I will get some exercise trying to it open.
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