Ideas and inspiration for these blog posts come from numerous sources. Sometimes it’s current events, other times it may be a response to a past or present life event. Plus when I travel the combination of different surroundings and making memories spurs the writing juices.
But other times I see something and immediately start thinking of how to expand on a topic.
Such was the case a couple of weeks ago when, in the course of typical errands, I spotted this marquee for a local BBQ joint:
Some background for readers who are not part of my family: I was raised Catholic. As such the season of Lent always meant the Friday night meal consisted of tuna casserole or fish sticks. And my lunch always featured a peanut-butter sandwich. Ash Wednesday also was a no-meat day.
Even into my teen years I was afraid of inadvertently eating meat lest the wrath of God come upon me. Once I even voiced this and my father quickly steered me in the right direction with the sentence: “That’s not God’s rule, that’s the church’s rule,”
I’m now in my 50’s and in this passage of time my faith direction shifted away from the Catholic Church and to mainstream Protestantism. But that’s a subject well beyond the scope of this blog and I’m not comfortable putting that much of my story out for public consumption.
However with the abstinence from meat on certain days still taught and adhered to by Roman Catholics it does make sense to look into the origin and reason of this rule. As expected the Internet gives plenty of information but I will summarize it for you: If you’re choosing to deny yourself something pleasurable to instead focus on your spiritual growth you will reap significant long-term benefits.
I agree, scholars and theologians. That previous sentence appears far too simplistic yet I choose the wording in order to stay on my topic and not venture into examples or specifics. I can leave that to others.
My takeaway is this: I choose to practice abstinence and/or fasting rather than obeying a particular rule out of compulsion. If during this Lenten season I deny myself something enjoyable in order to spend more time in prayer and meditation I will have a better mindset and undoubtedly improved results.
Now back to the sign that started all of this. Under the rules of the Catholic Church I can consume said po’ boy on Friday during Lent and be within their regulation of abstinence. But following the letter of the law obviously isn’t the same as the spirit. A sandwich such as that will be pleasing (very much so) to my palate but am I denying myself anything significant? For me the answer is no. In line with my hobby of grilling food I learned how to cook salmon on a cedar plank, resulting in fish that has a wonderful smoky flavor and plenty of moisture. Same thing. The dish contains neither flesh nor fowl but gives me no sense of abstinence.
I will close this with a reminder to all who read this. I am not your spiritual leader so please don’t take my words here with any intention of directing others in matters of faith or in deconstructing the rules of the Catholic Church, or any other denomination. Rather interpret this entry as a reflection of my own thoughts and attitudes toward this season of Lent and our anticipation of Easter. I’m pleased to be part of a church body that does observe Lent and recall a conversation with a colleague who, while having very similar spiritual beliefs, admitted never having practiced a Lenten season observation and indicated an open attitude towards it. Perhaps this entry will get some people thinking.
